Alleged Drug trafficking: Why We can’t release Tinubu’s record – FBI

In a recent legal filing, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) requested permission to submit confidential declarations to explain its decision to withhold certain investigative records related to allegations of drug trafficking involving President Bola Tinubu. The FBI argued that releasing the withheld information could expose law-enforcement techniques and potentially endanger individuals' lives or physical safety.

This request was made in an ex parte, in camera declaration, a private submission to the judge, which is not placed on the public record. The FBI is involved in two Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, one seeking the complete FBI file on Tinubu and the other seeking FBI Form 302 interview records from a case dating back to 1992 and 1993.

The FBI invoked several FOIA exemptions to justify withholding portions of the requested records, including exemptions 6, 7(C), 7(D), 7(E) and 7(F). These exemptions were invoked to protect investigative techniques and procedures or to prevent endangering individuals. The FBI asked the court to allow it to submit an additional confidential declaration under seal to explain its position to the judge before August 28.

The case was initiated by Aaron Greenspan, founder of PlainSite, who filed FOIA requests between 2022 and 2023 seeking records concerning criminal investigations involving four individuals, including Tinubu. The FBI's latest application aims to provide the judge with further reasons why some of the records should remain withheld, particularly due to the risk of revealing sensitive investigative methods or endangering individuals.