A United States court has taken another step in the long-running legal battle over government records linked to past allegations involving President Bola Tinubu.
The Freedom of Information Act case was filed by American transparency activist Aaron Greenspan. He is seeking records held by agencies including the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Justice.
Washington-based lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. said Judge Beryl Howell had granted the FBI permission to submit sensitive documents privately for an in-camera review.
An in-camera review allows the judge to examine documents away from the public and decide whether the government has a legal reason to withhold them.
Court records show that the FBI, DEA, DOJ and Tinubu have until August 28, 2026, “and no later,” to oppose the release request or file their own summary judgment motions.
The firm interpreted the strict wording as a sign that the judge would not accept further delays. However, that interpretation is the firm’s opinion, not a separate court ruling.
The FBI reportedly argues that public disclosure of some information could reveal confidential sources, investigative methods or details that could endanger people.
Von Batten-Montague-York claims the FBI holds sensitive information linked to drug-trafficking allegations involving Tinubu.
However, the private submission does not prove that the allegations are true. The court is currently deciding whether the records should be released under FOIA, not whether Tinubu committed a crime.
The dispute relates to records from investigations conducted in the United States during the 1990s. A civil forfeiture settlement was reached in 1993, but Tinubu was not criminally convicted in the matter.
“We have now been informed that US Court’s Judge Howell this morning granted the FBI permission to provide the court with the documents in private.
“This has not yet been published on the court docket as of this evening, and the claim is based solely on the law firm’s X post,” … read.
The court schedule also gives Greenspan until September 11 to respond, while the government’s final reply is due by September 18.
