The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned that its informants and agents could be targeted for assassination if it releases records relating to the alleged drug trafficking history of Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu.
The FBI issued the warning in a court filing responding to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit before Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The case follows FOIA requests filed by American transparency activist Aaron Greenspan, who is seeking records of Tinubu’s alleged drug-related activities in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s.
Greenspan has also requested records concerning Tinubu from several other U.S. federal agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and immigration authorities.
The FBI stated that disclosing certain information could expose individuals who assisted in the investigations to retaliation from third parties connected to the alleged criminal activities.
According to the bureau, it relied on FOIA Exemption 7(F), alongside other privacy exemptions, to withhold the documents. It argued that releasing the names or identifying details of certain individuals could endanger their lives or physical safety.
The bureau further emphasized that individuals mentioned in the investigative files might view the information as derogatory or incriminating, potentially leading them to violently target those who cooperated with law enforcement.
The filing followed an order by Judge Howell requiring the FBI to justify withholding the records, while allowing the agency to submit its explanations and the documents privately for the court’s review.
The FBI and other U.S. agencies have faced criticism over delays in releasing these documents, which include records from a 1993 civil forfeiture case in which $460,000 linked to Tinubu was forfeited to the U.S. government.
