In an unexpected turn, the long-anticipated release of documents by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) concerning an alleged drug investigation involving Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been delayed.
The release, previously ordered by U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell for May 2, 2025, has now hit a snag after both agencies jointly requested a 90-day extension in a court filing on Thursday, May 1. The agencies said they needed more time to complete searches for non-exempt records.
The case originated from a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed in June 2023 by U.S. transparency advocate Aaron Greenspan. The lawsuit seeks access to investigative records from multiple federal agencies linked to a 1990s drug trafficking and money laundering probe in Chicago, allegedly involving Tinubu and others.
Greenspan had submitted 12 FOIA requests between 2022 and 2023 to the FBI, DEA, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Department of State, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in Indiana and Illinois, and the CIA. The requests targeted four individuals: Bola Tinubu, Mueez Akande, Lee Andrew Edwards, and Abiodun Agbele—figures allegedly tied to the drug ring.
In their latest joint status report, the FBI and DEA confirmed that they had begun searching for responsive, non-exempt, and reasonably segregable documents but insisted a 90-day window was required to finalize the process.
“The FBI and DEA have initiated their searches for responsive, non-exempt, reasonably segregable portions of records requested by the plaintiff and anticipate completing their searches in ninety days,” the agencies stated.
However, Greenspan sharply opposed the extension, labeling it unnecessary and overly prolonged. He argued that many relevant documents had already been identified and should be released promptly.
“Given the years-long delay already caused by the defendants and the fact that many responsive documents have already been identified, the plaintiff proposes that the FBI and DEA complete their searches and productions by next week,” Greenspan argued, calling for either a full release or at least the unredacted versions of already-identified files within days.
The case remains closely watched in both Nigeria and the United States, as calls for transparency and accountability grow louder ahead of any potential disclosures.
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