FBI Submits Tinubu’s Drug, Money-Laundering Records to US Judge Beryl Howell

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has submitted records relating to President Bola Tinubu’s 1993 case involving allegations of drug trafficking and money laundering to a US federal judge, following a prolonged legal battle over their release.

The records were hand-delivered to Judge Beryl Howell of the US District Court for the District of Columbia on Friday, August 28, 2026, and filed under seal for the judge’s review, according to court filings.

The FBI said the documents were submitted “under seal, ex parte, in camera” in compliance with a minute order issued by the court on August 20.

The submission followed years of delays over a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed in 2023 by transparency activist Aaron Greenspan, who sought records relating to Tinubu from the FBI. Greenspan worked with Nigerian journalist David Hundeyin on the request.

The FBI had previously missed several deadlines set by the court, prompting Howell to give the bureau until August 28 to comply.

Rather than release the records directly to Greenspan, the FBI submitted them privately to the judge for an initial review.

The development came after the bureau argued earlier in the week that releasing the documents could infringe on Tinubu’s privacy rights. The FBI also maintained that FOIA was primarily intended to promote transparency in government operations and records, rather than provide unrestricted access to information concerning private individuals.

Tinubu has also opposed the release of the records, arguing that political opponents could use them to damage his reputation, particularly in connection with Nigeria’s presidential elections. He asked the court to protect his privacy.

The controversy centres on Tinubu’s dealings with US authorities in the 1990s over allegations linked to narcotics trafficking and money laundering. Tinubu has for years faced questions over the matter but has largely avoided publicly addressing the allegations in detail.

In 2023, a US federal court in Illinois released documents concerning Tinubu’s dealings with American authorities and a related forfeiture of funds to the US government.

The latest court filing does not, however, mean the records have been made public. The documents remain under seal while the court considers the FBI’s position and the FOIA request.