₦airaland Forum

Angry U.S. judge lambasts FBI, DEA for delaying release of Tinubu’s criminal records, issues final ultimatum

The judge ordered the FBI to provide sworn statements on why it has been missing deadlines to frustrate the release of Mr Tinubu’s records.


U.S. judge Beryl A. Howell lashed out at the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration for employing delay tactics to frustrate the release of President Bola Tinubu’s records based on a 2022 Freedom of Information request by transparency campaigner Aaron Greenspan, who was assisted by investigative journalist David Hundeyin.


Ms Howell of the U.S. Court for the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C., on February 3, rebuked the FBI and DEA for holding up the release of Mr Tinubu’s records, expected to shed light on a narcotics-trafficking ordeal that made him surrender $460,000 to the U.S. government in the early 1990s. Mr Greenspan, CEO of Plainsite, a data transparency advocacy group, first filed the FOI in June 2022.


The sluggishness of the FBI and DEA to honour court submissions, with incessant postponements, has caused the case to linger for more than three years without any headway in sight, Ms Howell said in her opinion, while issuing fresh ultimatums that must not be missed, according to court filings seen by Peoples Gazette.

The FBI in 2023 announced plans to release 2500 pages of Mr Tinubu’s records in monthly batches of 500 pages. But the release was stalled after Mr Tinubu fiercely opposed it and sought a reprieve to protect his records, pending a Nigerian Supreme Court judgment that he was then praying to uphold his election victory. He claimed that he would be “adversely affected” if his FBI records were released prematurely.

Ms Beryl approved his request then, but even though Mr Tinubu’s presidential victory was upheld, the FBI and DEA continued to delay, begging for new dates to process and release the long-sought records anticipated to clarify the decades-long controversy about Mr Tinubu’s role in a cocaine trafficking scheme. The Nigerian president denies any wrongdoing.

The bureau, which ought to submit an updated report in May 2025, adjourned for several months until January 2026, when it requested a new date for February. The latest motion to extend the processing and submission date to February provoked the ire of Ms Howell.

“Defendant FBI has produced no records, despite initially anticipating completion of searches by August 1, 2025, Joint Status Report (May 1, 2025), later pushed to September 1, 2025, [51] Joint Status Report (June 30, 2025); and production to begin by December 1, 2025, [51] Joint Status Report (June 30, 2025), later pushed to January 23, 2026, [62] Joint Status Report (December 1, 2025), and pushed again, with minimal explanation, to February 13, 2025,” Ms Howell said.

“Similar to the current posture of the DEA in this case, the FBI has provided no reliable end date for the processing and production of responsive records,” the judge stressed.

Ms Beryl shot down the DEA’s argument to have released some documents while withholding other pages for over six months. The DEA claimed that the so-called files were “out for consult” with other agencies but failed to state when the documents could be available to Mr Greenspan.

“Defendant DEA has produced some documents; see [54] Joint Status Report (August 7, 2025), but has parroted the same message for the past six months and four joint status reports regarding twelve remaining pages not yet produced,” the judge said.

Consequently, she ordered the DEA to furnish Mr Greenspan with a Vaughn index detailing the reasons for redacting 50 pages and withholding 172 pages of Mr Tinubu’s records.

For the separate 12 records sent to unspecified agencies, Judge Howell ordered that a DEA agent must file sworn affidavits explaining, page by page, when each record was sent to the agencies for consultation, when the review is expected to be completed, and the steps taken so far to expedite the release of Mr Tinubu’s records.

Ms Howell ordered the FBI to provide sworn statements explaining why the bureau has been missing crucial deadlines to frustrate the release of Mr Tinubu’s records as requested by Mr Greenspan.

The judge further asked the FBI to turn over all non-exempt documents concerning Mr Tinubu, as the bureau promised to do in availing Mr Greenspan “its first interim response within two weeks of January 30, 2026.”

The FBI was further directed to provide a timetable detailing how the bureau intends to submit the second batch of 500 pages by March 13 and ensure that the last batch will be released by June 1, 2026.

“Submit to the court a detailed status report on how the FBI is fulfilling its representation that ‘the second interim response is anticipated for March 13, 2026,’ id., with production of segregable non-exempt information at the rate of 500 pages reviewed per month, and a plan to complete such processing and production by June 1, 2026,” court filings stated.

The judge asked both the FBI and DEA to file a joint status report on their progress “every 14 days” starting February 27, until all processing and production of responsive records is completed.”

In April 2025, the judge granted CIA’s motion to be left out of the case after successfully arguing that there was no evidence the agency had collected any intelligence on Mr Tinubu

https://gazettengr.com/angry-u-s-judge-lambasts-fbi-dea-for-delaying-release-of-tinubus-criminal-records-issues-final-ultimatum/

I can't wait to see that criminal disgraced.

Another opportunity to take some donations

madridguy:
Another opportunity to take some donations

Now u don dey understand the government wey u dey support abi.

Mad people everywhere

Kash Patel you're slacking

...."He claimed that he would be “adversely affected” if his FBI records were released prematurely"....
Isn't that an admission of guilt.

The US plays nonsensical politics like Nigeria, but the country clearly has its limits.

For instance, one American dies, their people are on the streets protesting, but about 200 Nigerians died in Kwara and Nigerians are seriously minding their business!

Nigeria is the world's most ductile country. In the words of Rotimi Amaechi, nothing moves a Nigerian.

GhenGheeen!

This Tinubu's drug dent just won't go away no matter how hard he lobbys. This thing is just following him up and down like tribal marks. 😄😃

This people like to shame themselves too much.

This coming just days after Trump hail Remi Tinubu means the hailing was not real I was thinking Trump don compromise sef

Soulsymbol99:
This coming just days after Trump hail Remi Tinubu means the hailing was not real I was thinking Trump don compromise sef

This isn’t about Trump per se. The American government runs a very robust system that allows the independence of the judiciary. Even Trump has been restricted time and again by the courts.

If the judge pursues the case to a logical end, even Trump cannot do anything about it. My only fear is that the US government may be using the leverage over Nigeria’s interests and that is frightening to imagine for our national security.

Bobloco:
Angry U.S. judge lambasts FBI, DEA for delaying release of Tinubu’s criminal records, issues final ultimatum

The judge ordered the FBI to provide sworn statements on why it has been missing deadlines to frustrate the release of Mr Tinubu’s records.


U.S. judge Beryl A. Howell lashed out at the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration for employing delay tactics to frustrate the release of President Bola Tinubu’s records based on a 2022 Freedom of Information request by transparency campaigner Aaron Greenspan, who was assisted by investigative journalist David Hundeyin.


Ms Howell of the U.S. Court for the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C., on February 3, rebuked the FBI and DEA for holding up the release of Mr Tinubu’s records, expected to shed light on a narcotics-trafficking ordeal that made him surrender $460,000 to the U.S. government in the early 1990s. Mr Greenspan, CEO of Plainsite, a data transparency advocacy group, first filed the FOI in June 2022.


The sluggishness of the FBI and DEA to honour court submissions, with incessant postponements, has caused the case to linger for more than three years without any headway in sight, Ms Howell said in her opinion, while issuing fresh ultimatums that must not be missed, according to court filings seen by Peoples Gazette.

The FBI in 2023 announced plans to release 2500 pages of Mr Tinubu’s records in monthly batches of 500 pages. But the release was stalled after Mr Tinubu fiercely opposed it and sought a reprieve to protect his records, pending a Nigerian Supreme Court judgment that he was then praying to uphold his election victory. He claimed that he would be “adversely affected” if his FBI records were released prematurely.

Ms Beryl approved his request then, but even though Mr Tinubu’s presidential victory was upheld, the FBI and DEA continued to delay, begging for new dates to process and release the long-sought records anticipated to clarify the decades-long controversy about Mr Tinubu’s role in a cocaine trafficking scheme. The Nigerian president denies any wrongdoing.

The bureau, which ought to submit an updated report in May 2025, adjourned for several months until January 2026, when it requested a new date for February. The latest motion to extend the processing and submission date to February provoked the ire of Ms Howell.

“Defendant FBI has produced no records, despite initially anticipating completion of searches by August 1, 2025, Joint Status Report (May 1, 2025), later pushed to September 1, 2025, [51] Joint Status Report (June 30, 2025); and production to begin by December 1, 2025, [51] Joint Status Report (June 30, 2025), later pushed to January 23, 2026, [62] Joint Status Report (December 1, 2025), and pushed again, with minimal explanation, to February 13, 2025,” Ms Howell said.

“Similar to the current posture of the DEA in this case, the FBI has provided no reliable end date for the processing and production of responsive records,” the judge stressed.

Ms Beryl shot down the DEA’s argument to have released some documents while withholding other pages for over six months. The DEA claimed that the so-called files were “out for consult” with other agencies but failed to state when the documents could be available to Mr Greenspan.

“Defendant DEA has produced some documents; see [54] Joint Status Report (August 7, 2025), but has parroted the same message for the past six months and four joint status reports regarding twelve remaining pages not yet produced,” the judge said.

Consequently, she ordered the DEA to furnish Mr Greenspan with a Vaughn index detailing the reasons for redacting 50 pages and withholding 172 pages of Mr Tinubu’s records.

For the separate 12 records sent to unspecified agencies, Judge Howell ordered that a DEA agent must file sworn affidavits explaining, page by page, when each record was sent to the agencies for consultation, when the review is expected to be completed, and the steps taken so far to expedite the release of Mr Tinubu’s records.

Ms Howell ordered the FBI to provide sworn statements explaining why the bureau has been missing crucial deadlines to frustrate the release of Mr Tinubu’s records as requested by Mr Greenspan.

The judge further asked the FBI to turn over all non-exempt documents concerning Mr Tinubu, as the bureau promised to do in availing Mr Greenspan “its first interim response within two weeks of January 30, 2026.”

The FBI was further directed to provide a timetable detailing how the bureau intends to submit the second batch of 500 pages by March 13 and ensure that the last batch will be released by June 1, 2026.

“Submit to the court a detailed status report on how the FBI is fulfilling its representation that ‘the second interim response is anticipated for March 13, 2026,’ id., with production of segregable non-exempt information at the rate of 500 pages reviewed per month, and a plan to complete such processing and production by June 1, 2026,” court filings stated.

The judge asked both the FBI and DEA to file a joint status report on their progress “every 14 days” starting February 27, until all processing and production of responsive records is completed.”

In April 2025, the judge granted CIA’s motion to be left out of the case after successfully arguing that there was no evidence the agency had collected any intelligence on Mr Tinubu


https://gazettengr.com/christian-genocide-i-want-trump-to-order-more-u-s-military-strikes-in-northern-nigeria-christmas-day-bombing-was-blessing-says-tinubu/

https://gazettengr.com/christian-genocide-i-want-trump-to-order-more-u-s-military-strikes-in-northern-nigeria-christmas-day-bombing-was-blessing-says-tinubu/

This is where your link goes.....



Christian ‘Genocide’: I want Trump to order more U.S. military strikes in northern Nigeria; Christmas Day bombing was blessing, says Tinubu
“Nigeria is looking forward to collaboration….We are expecting that there will be more,” Mrs Tinubu stated. “It was quite a blessing.”

Ahmed Oluwasanjo • February 9, 2026
Remi Tinubu
Remi Tinubu[Credit: Remi Tinubu]
Remi Tinubu, Nigeria’s first lady, has called for more U.S. military strikes targeted at terrorists and bandits in the northern region of the country.

Khallicopyro:
...."He claimed that he would be “adversely affected” if his FBI records were released prematurely"....
Isn't that an admission of guilt.

U are still deceiving yourself chasing shadows, waiting for what does not exist?

By the time u would realize that u are being taken on a clown’s ride, it will be 2028 in front of u.

SmartPolician:
The US plays nonsensical politics like Nigeria, but the country clearly has its limits.

For instance, one American dies, their people are on the streets protesting, but about 200 Nigerians died in Kwara and Nigerians are seriously minding their business!

Nigeria is the world's most ductile country. In the words of Rotimi Amaechi, nothing moves a Nigerian.

Don’t be surprised if the records are released and Tnubu is caught with his pants down, that nothing will be done about it and he’d still be left to carry on like nothing happened!

Nlfpmod...even though the link attached isn't correct. The news is authentic and People need to see this update.

Thank you

So many things will happen...

They all know it.

To imagine their $9 Million dollars, propaganda slush funds only gave them a REMI TINUBU audience with TRUMP.

Even the useless celebration has been squashed and labelled ineffective by Mike Arnold, who told them that TRUMP sees beyond their weak antics

Truly their so called sophisticated reasoning is ideally myopic and pathetic.

IGBOPROMISE1:
Don’t be surprised that if the records are released and Tnubu is caught with his pants down, that nothing will be done about it and he’d still be left to carry on like nothing happened!

Release d records of d drugs peddler with no school mates from primary school to date

madridguy:
Another opportunity to take some donations

Simple, fake news from duplicate monikers reporting from a dubious website.

David Hundeyin, grow up, your formula don cast.

Burob:
U are still deceiving yourself chasing shadows, waiting for what does not exist?

By the time u would realize that u are being taken on a clown’s ride, it will be 2028 in front of u.

Which rigging and vote buying Abi ? Isn’t what you are know for ?

elijahozzy:
Which rigging and vote buying Abi ? Isn’t what you are know for ?

You love feeding on falsehood so much because of your lack of critical thinking.. if you are still dwelling on this line of thought that can't be proven but sold to people like you because you lack independent thoughts.

Ok

seunowa:
You love feeding on falsehood so much because of your lack of critical thinking.. if you are still dwelling on this line of thought that can't be proven but sold to people like you because you lack independent thoughts.

APC doesn’t want free and fair elections, shame unto una, I pour you split eeeetthvjkk

elijahozzy:
APC doesn’t want free and fair elections, shame unto una, I pour you split eeeetthvjkk

The question is did APC led government ban e-transmission of results? You are too lazy to think for yourself, the reason our political leaders sell false narrative for u to feed on.

SmartPolician:
[b]For instance, one American dies, their people are on the streets protesting, [/b]but about 200 Nigerians died in Kwara and Nigerians are seriously minding their business!

Lol... All these ignorant statements.

How many people have ICE killed in the past two weeks? How many protests have you seen?

What of those from police brutality? Or those from gun violence.

Stop distorting facts, we are not all dubiously uninformed.

erad:
Lol... All these ignorant statements.

How many people have ICE killed in the past two weeks? How many protests have you seen?

What of those from police brutality? Or those from gun violence.

Stop distorting facts, we are not all dubiously uninformed.

You obviously have no access to cable TV. Stop dis gracing your family here

SmartPolician:
You obviously have no access to cable TV. Stop dis gracing your family here

Lol... Typical.

erad:
Lol... Typical.

Bros, if you had gone to your neighbours house to watch CNN, you would've seen protests that were being quelled in Minnesota. Alternatively, google Minnesota protest.

PS: I won't reply to you again because yours is brazen igno rance

elijahozzy:
Which rigging and vote buying Abi ? Isn’t what you are know for ?

No honor amongst politicians, u win by any means necessary.

Yarimo it’s time to book a session to spill your liquids

US judge show us the law 😀

floss:
Yarimo it’s time to book a session to spill your liquids

Ewwww...🤢