Tinubu Asks US Court to Block Release of Old FBI, DEA Records
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Lawyers for President Bola Tinubu have asked a US court to block the release of decades-old FBI and DEA investigative records tied to a 1993 civil forfeiture case, which Tinubu has always denied wrongdoing in.
Lawyers acting for President Bola Tinubu have filed a motion in a United States court seeking to block the release of old FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) records connected to a 1993 civil forfeiture case in Chicago, according to court filings reported by Nigerian media on Friday, August 28, 2026.
The case in question was a civil asset forfeiture matter from over three decades ago, in which US authorities seized funds from a bank account linked to Tinubu; no criminal charges were ever filed against him in the matter, and he has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The current legal filing relates to a Freedom of Information Act request seeking release of the underlying investigative file, which Tinubu's lawyers argue should remain restricted.
The matter has re-emerged as a subject of political discussion in Nigeria, with critics citing it in the context of the 2027 election cycle. Presidency officials have not issued a detailed public statement on the specific court filing, and the legal process in the US is ongoing.