Alleged drug trafficking: Why Tinubu’s record can’t be released – FBI

The FBI has explained why it is refusing to release President Bola Tinubu's alleged drug trafficking record. In a court filing, the agency requested that some records be kept confidential to protect law-enforcement methods and the safety of individuals. According to the FBI, making the information public could reveal investigative procedures and techniques, as well as expose individuals to threats to their personal safety.

The agency is asking a US court to permit it to keep certain records from public disclosure. The FBI filed a motion with the US District Court for the District of Columbia on August 20, 2026, seeking to present the explanation for withholding certain records in camera, meaning directly to the judge without making it part of the public court record.

The dispute stems from two Freedom of Information Act requests submitted for FBI records connected to Tinubu. The FBI had applied several exemptions under the FOIA law to protect personal privacy, confidential sources, law-enforcement techniques, and information that could threaten an individual's safety. The agency plans to submit a sealed declaration to the judge by August 28, providing a more detailed justification for its decision to withhold parts of the records.