Just hours after news broke of a U.S. federal judge ordering the FBI and DEA to release files tied to the Tinubu drug case, the Nigerian Presidency has issued a formal statement, dismissing the development as revealing “nothing new.”
The ruling, delivered by Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, mandates that the agencies release documents related to an investigation from the early 1990s, which reportedly involved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and a heroin trafficking network in Chicago.
Presidency: Reports Are Decades Old and “No Indictment”
In its response to journalist inquiries, the Presidency played down the significance of the court order.
“There is nothing new to be revealed. The report by Agent Moss of the FBI and the DEA report have been in the public space for more than 30 years. The reports did not indict the Nigerian leader.”
It further noted that President Tinubu’s legal team is currently reviewing the court’s decision, despite asserting that the documents hold no fresh revelations.
Nigerians React: From Outrage to Indifference.
The Presidency’s statement sparked a flurry of responses on social media, with many Nigerians voicing frustration, skepticism, and fatigue over the recurring drug case saga. Here’s a snapshot of the public mood:
“Would you mind clarifying why your boss forfeited $460,000?”
– Oladipo E.I. (@diepole)
“We’re already aware of the allegations. In a sane country, BAT wouldn’t have made it past screening.”
– Ben Samuel (@flourish007)
“You go explain explain explain… To be a spokesman is one thing, to be a defender like Taribo West is another.”
– Kay (@kunmiadelokiki)
“Senior Domestic Servant, why are lawyers examining what’s clearly public, if it has no indictment?”
– Generation Football (@GenerationFoot2)
“That’s another unforgettable international scandal on your master’s neck.”
– Daily Justice (@DailyJusticeAct)
“Why examine the ruling if it’s irrelevant? You people brought shame to Nigeria.”
– Adeniyi Waziri (@waziri_adeniyi)
However, not all comments were critical. Some supporters brushed off the case entirely:
“Let them release whatever they have, we don’t care!”
– Dewdrop (@OyinAtiBode)
“This is a perfect reply. Let them continue their wild goose chase.”
– King of Salem (@ihe69)
“The wailers will die of high blood pressure. 4+4=8, like it or not!”
– Classic-Girl (@comr_ChangkurJn)
Longstanding Controversy Resurfaces.
The files relate to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed by U.S. activist Aaron Greenspan in 2023, which sought access to documents linked to alleged heroin trafficking and money laundering activities involving Tinubu and associate Abiodun Agbele.
A centerpiece of the case remains the 1993 forfeiture of $460,000 from Tinubu’s account in the U.S., a settlement tied to suspected drug proceeds. While there was no criminal indictment, the forfeiture has continued to cast a shadow over his political image.
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Deadline Set: FBI and DEA to Release Files by May 2, 2025.
Judge Howell’s ruling rejected the FBI and DEA’s prior “Glomar response,” which had refused to confirm or deny the existence of the records. Now, both agencies are required to release all relevant files by May 2, 2025.
The CIA has been exempted from the release, but deliberations are ongoing regarding other agencies also holding related documents.
As Nigeria watches the developments unfold, many citizens remain skeptical of both the transparency and integrity of leadership. While the Presidency insists there’s nothing new, public discourse shows otherwise.
Whether this latest legal milestone changes anything politically remains to be seen — but the conversation it’s fueling is loud, divided, and far from over.
