A United States-based political advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has indicated that it may submit video evidence in a legal battle involving records linked to allegations concerning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s past.
The firm disclosed this in a post on its verified X account on Monday, saying it was amending its supplemental notice of evidentiary exhibits filed before a US court to include a transcript of the video.
According to the firm, the footage could challenge Tinubu’s attempt to invoke privacy protections over records held by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
The firm claimed the video features Adewale Tinubu, described as the president’s reported nephew, speaking at an All Progressives Congress (APC) political event about an earlier Chicago legal case involving the president.
In the alleged footage, Adewale Tinubu reportedly said: “I did that case in Chicago. It was one of my first legal matters,” while also describing efforts to persuade Tinubu to settle the matter.
However, Von Batten-Montague-York argued that official court records do not support the account, noting that Patrick S. Coffey, Esq. is identified as the attorney who represented Tinubu in the case.
The firm said no court appearance, pleading, signature or other filing identifies Adewale Tinubu as counsel in the proceeding.
It further argued that the alleged public discussion of the Chicago case could weaken Tinubu’s claim to privacy over related FBI and DEA records.
“President Tinubu cannot have it both ways,” the firm said, arguing that US courts have recognised circumstances in which voluntary public disclosure can diminish privacy interests protected under federal law.
The lobbying firm also called on the FBI and DEA to release the records, asserting that the documents would eventually become public regardless of which political party controls the White House.
The claims remain allegations, and the dispute centres on whether records relating to the earlier investigation should be released publicly. Tinubu has previously denied wrongdoing connected to the allegations.
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