30/08/2026
Four Reasons Why US court Shouldn't Release My FBI Records...
President Bola Tinubu has filed a 16-page motion before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, asking the judge to block the release of his records with the FBI and DEA . His legal team gave four reasons why the records should remain secret :
1. FOIA and Privacy Act Preclude Disclosure
Tinubu's lawyers argue that the US Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act prevent the release of the records, citing Exemption 7(C) , which protects personal information contained in law-enforcement records .
2. No Public Interest in the Matter
The President's team rejected the argument that Nigerians' interest in his background constitutes a public interest recognised by US law. They stated that "the asserted 'public interest in Tinubu's own fitness for office' is not an interest FOIA recognises" .
3. No Public Interest to Balance
Tinubu's lawyers argued that even if there was a public interest, it does not outweigh his right to privacy. They cited a 1989 US Supreme Court decision, arguing that FOIA was designed to allow the public to know "what the government is up to" — not to provide access to information about private citizens.
4. Plaintiff Has Ulterior Motives
The President's team argued that Aaron Greenspan's FOIA requests were aimed at obtaining private information about Tinubu for use in Nigerian politics, rather than scrutinising the activities of US government agencies . They stated that the records are being sought "to influence politics in a foreign nation" .
The background
The controversy stems from a 1993 US civil forfeiture proceeding in Chicago involving approximately $460,000 held in an account in Tinubu's name. A US District Court ordered the forfeiture after the US alleged the funds represented proceeds of narcotics trafficking . Tinubu has not been convicted of drug trafficking in the United States.
