President Tinubu moves to block release of US investigation records linked to him

President Bola Tinubu has moved to block the release of United States government records relating to past investigations involving him, asking a US court to prevent the Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) from disclosing the documents.

The development follows a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by transparency activist Aaron Greenspan, who is seeking access to records connected to investigations involving the Nigerian president.

Among the documents requested are Tinubu’s FBI file and Form 302 interview records from 1992 to 1993.

The case also involves records allegedly connected to a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding involving about $460,000 linked to Tinubu. The president has denied any wrongdoing.

In a 16-page court filing submitted by his legal team and shared by Channels Television on Saturday, Tinubu argued that releasing the records could violate his privacy rights.

His lawyers maintained that information previously disclosed during the forfeiture proceeding did not reveal the details or outcome of any potential criminal investigation.

They argued that the fact that some information had previously been made public did not eliminate Tinubu’s privacy interest in portions of the investigative records that remained undisclosed.

The legal team cited a US Supreme Court precedent involving the Reporters Committee, arguing that individuals can retain privacy interests in government records even when some information contained in them has already entered the public domain.

Tinubu’s lawyers also referenced a 2012 Judicial Watch case involving the DOJ, arguing that individuals can maintain privacy interests in investigative information even when they have been publicly linked to criminal activity.

Another case involving the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the DOJ was cited to argue that being investigated is distinct from disclosure of the contents of an investigation.

“Regardless of the prior disclosure in the forfeiture proceeding, Intervenor retains a privacy interest in potential disclosure of the investigative files sought by Plaintiff,” the court document stated.

The dispute centres on whether the US government should release the records sought under the FOIA request, with Tinubu seeking to prevent their disclosure on privacy grounds.