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Tinubu FBI records: Agency seeks secret court filing over safety, investigative methods

Published

2 months ago

August 21, 2026

FBI confirms Tinubu was subject of US criminal investigation in 1990s

Tinubu FBI records: Agency seeks secret court filing over safety, investigative methods

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has asked a federal court in Washington, D.C., to allow it to privately explain why some investigative records relating to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remain withheld, arguing that publicly disclosing the full basis for the redactions could expose sensitive law-enforcement techniques and potentially endanger individuals.

The FBI made the request in a filing dated August 20, 2026, in an ongoing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit brought by Aaron Greenspan, the founder of PlainSite, who is seeking historical US government records connected to investigations involving Tinubu and allegations of drug trafficking.

The agency is asking the US District Court for the District of Columbia to permit it to submit confidential declarations ex parte and in camera. This would allow the FBI to provide its full explanation directly to Judge Beryl Howell, under seal and without making the information available to the other parties or the public.

The FBI said the request is necessary because publicly setting out the complete justification for withholding some of the records could reveal the information it is seeking to protect.

“The FBI has determined that it cannot provide on the public record the full basis for the application of Exemptions 7(E) and 7(F) to certain withholdings,” the agency said in its filing, arguing that an ex parte, under-seal declaration is therefore necessary.

Under the US FOIA, Exemption 7(E) can protect information that would disclose law-enforcement techniques or procedures, while Exemption 7(F) covers information whose disclosure could reasonably be expected to endanger an individual’s life or physical safety.

The FBI has also relied on FOIA Exemptions 6, 7(C) and 7(D) in processing the records sought by Greenspan. The exemptions broadly address personal privacy, confidential sources and other protected information obtained during law-enforcement investigations.

The agency has not said that Tinubu is the person whose life or safety could be endangered by disclosure. Rather, the potential danger cited in the filing relates to the statutory basis for applying Exemption 7(F).

If Judge Howell approves the request, the FBI said it intends to submit its confidential declaration explaining the disputed withholdings by August 28, 2026.

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Greenspan has filed multiple FOIA requests seeking historical records from US federal agencies relating to a criminal investigation into a Chicago-based heroin trafficking organisation that operated in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

His requests include the FBI’s “entire FBI file” on Tinubu, as well as FBI Form 302 interview records involving Tinubu in a case covering the period between 1992 and 1993.

The records sought concern four individuals identified in the litigation: Tinubu, Lee Andrew Edwards, Mueez Adegboyega Akande and Abiodun Agbele.

The requests were submitted to several US agencies, including the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Executive Office for United States Attorneys and Department of State. The CIA was subsequently added to the case.

Several of the agencies initially issued what is known as a “Glomar response”, declining to confirm or deny whether records relating to the individuals existed.

Greenspan challenged the agencies’ responses through the US Department of Justice’s Office of Information Policy before taking the dispute to federal court.

He filed the lawsuit on June 12, 2023, challenging the agencies’ refusal to confirm or deny the existence of the requested records.

A major development came in April 2025, when Judge Beryl Howell ruled that the FBI and DEA could no longer rely on their Glomar responses concerning the disputed records.

Howell found that the agencies had not established sufficient privacy interests to justify refusing to confirm or deny whether records existed concerning Tinubu.

The judge ordered the FBI and DEA to lift their Glomar responses, although she upheld the CIA’s Glomar response.

The ruling was significant because it opened the way for the agencies to address the existence of the requested records rather than simply refusing to acknowledge whether they had them.

However, the ruling did not amount to a finding that Tinubu committed drug trafficking or any other criminal offence.

The case is a FOIA litigation over access to government records, not a criminal prosecution of Tinubu.

The court’s decision also did not require every requested document to be released without redactions. US law allows agencies to withhold information where they can establish that specific FOIA exemptions apply.

The latest filing concerns records that the FBI says remain protected from disclosure even after the earlier Glomar dispute.

The agency is effectively asking Judge Howell to examine the sensitive material and its justification for withholding it without requiring the FBI to reveal publicly the investigative methods, sources or safety-related information it says are protected.

The request therefore represents a further legal dispute over how much of the Tinubu FBI records can be released, rather than a blanket decision to keep the entire file secret.

The FBI’s filing also does not reveal what the withheld records contain. It only explains why the agency believes portions of the material qualify for continued protection under federal law.

The development comes amid another dispute over the timing of the government’s response in the case.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) recently asked Judge Howell for an additional 10 days to respond to a court order concerning the records. The judge granted only four additional days, setting August 21, 2026, as the deadline.

Tinubu, through his legal team, subsequently joined the DOJ’s request for the longer extension.

The court’s deadline does not necessarily mean that all the requested records will be released immediately. The dispute still involves questions about applicable FOIA exemptions, redactions and whether the government has adequately justified withholding particular portions of the records.

The latest FBI request adds another issue for the court to consider: whether the agency should be allowed to provide some of its evidence and explanations privately because publicly disclosing them could undermine the very protections it is invoking.

The renewed attention on the Tinubu FBI records has generated political and public interest because the underlying FOIA requests concern historical allegations involving drug trafficking.

However, the latest FBI filing should not be interpreted as confirmation of those allegations.

The FBI has not publicly disclosed the contents of the withheld material, and the court has not found Tinubu guilty of drug trafficking based on the records at issue.

The ongoing proceedings are focused on whether the US government has complied with the Freedom of Information Act and whether particular information can legally be withheld under recognised exemptions.

The court will ultimately determine whether the FBI has provided sufficient grounds for keeping the disputed material confidential and whether any additional records should be released.

Tinubu FBI records: Agency seeks secret court filing over safety, investigative methods

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Court Denies Bail To Anambra Pastor Accused Of Marrying Mother, Daughter

Published

9 hours ago

October 6, 2026

Trends Admin

Court Denies Bail To Anambra Pastor Accused Of Marrying Mother, Daughter

The Anambra State High Court sitting in Awka has denied bail to Harrison Anazodo, a pastor and spiritualist facing a seven-count charge over alleged abduction, forced marriage and other offences.

Justice Jude Obiora rejected the bail application as proceedings continued in the case involving the General Overseer of Day Spring Assembly.

Anazodo had sought bail through his lawyer, W. Abonye, who reportedly cited health concerns in asking the court to release his client.

However, the prosecution, led by Chief State Counsel Chineze Ekwerekwu, opposed the application.

The prosecution filed a 20-paragraph counter-affidavit and two exhibits in opposition to the bail request and told the court that the state was ready to proceed with the trial.

The allegations against Anazodo include claims that he abducted a woman and her daughter and allegedly subjected them to forced marriage. He is also accused of taking several women as wives and engaging in conduct allegedly prohibited under the Anambra State Homeland Security Law, 2025.

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Anazodo has pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the allegations against him have not been established by the court.

The case attracted public attention following his arrest by officials of the Anambra State Government in June. Reports surrounding the arrest also alleged that about 11 babies were found at his residence.

The prosecution is expected to call witnesses as the trial progresses, with the state indicating its readiness to present its case.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter until October 16, 2026, for further proceedings.

There was also a confrontation involving some of the defendant’s supporters and journalists at the court premises. Reports said some journalists were allegedly prevented from recording the defendant’s arrival, with claims that phones and cameras belonging to some members of the media were damaged.

The incident was reportedly brought to the attention of the court by Anambra State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN. Defence counsel subsequently apologised over the incident, while the court directed that damaged equipment be replaced.

With the bail application rejected, Anazodo will remain in custody as the criminal trial continues.

Court Denies Bail To Anambra Pastor Accused Of Marrying Mother, Daughter

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Missing Robbery Suspect: Anambra CP Queries DPO, Orders Probe

Published

15 hours ago

October 6, 2026

Trends Admin

Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama

Missing Robbery Suspect: Anambra CP Queries DPO, Orders Probe

The Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, has ordered queries for the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of 3-3 Police Station, Onitsha, and a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) following allegations that an armed robbery suspect arrested and taken to the station could no longer be accounted for.

The commissioner also directed the immediate commencement of disciplinary proceedings against an Inspector of Police linked to the matter.

The action followed the circulation of a viral video alleging that the suspect, who had reportedly been arrested and brought to the police station, subsequently disappeared from custody.

Ama personally interviewed the complainant and officers connected to the incident before issuing the directives.

The commissioner described the allegation as serious, stressing that conduct capable of undermining public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force would not be tolerated.

He said the command would take firm action against unprofessional conduct, dereliction of duty, abuse of office and violations of established police procedures.

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Following the interviews, Ama ordered the command’s X-Squad to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s arrest, detention and documentation, as well as what happened after the suspect was taken into custody.

The investigation will also establish the roles played by the officers involved and determine whether any police personnel breached established procedures.

The commissioner further said operational measures had been put in place to facilitate the rearrest of the suspect, although the police have not publicly disclosed his current whereabouts.

Ama assured the public that the findings of the investigation would be communicated once the facts had been established.

He also warned against the circulation of unverified information that could prejudice the investigation, stressing the need for the matter to be handled based on established facts.

The commissioner reiterated his commitment to police accountability and professional conduct, saying officers entrusted with protecting members of the public must also be subject to scrutiny when allegations of misconduct arise.

The development has drawn attention to the procedures governing the arrest, detention and documentation of suspects in police custody, particularly the responsibility of officers to maintain accurate records and ensure that detainees remain properly accounted for.

For now, the exact circumstances surrounding the suspect’s alleged disappearance remain unclear. The ongoing X-Squad investigation is expected to determine how the suspect allegedly went missing and whether any police officer bears responsibility.

Missing Robbery Suspect: Anambra CP Queries DPO, Orders Probe

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Four NAF Engineers Died Days Before Foreign Course Deployment — Sources

Published

16 hours ago

October 6, 2026

Trends Admin

Four NAF Engineers Died Days Before Foreign Course Deployment — Sources

Four Nigerian Air Force (NAF) engineers killed in the Ondo aircraft crash had reportedly travelled to Abuja for documentation ahead of specialised foreign training courses.

The personnel were identified as Master Warrant Officer Matini BA, Flight Sergeant Mohammed AI, Sergeant Izibenikien SI and Sergeant Alafuka C.

According to information surrounding the tragedy, the four engineers had travelled to Abuja as part of preparations for their deployment abroad for professional courses. Their deaths came just days before they were expected to begin the specialised training.

The four were among the 25 people on board the NAF 931 ATR-42 aircraft that crashed in the Igbokoda area of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. The victims comprised five crew members and 20 passengers.

The aircraft was reportedly on a routine mission when it crashed in the riverine area of Ondo State. Search-and-rescue operations were immediately launched, but the Nigerian Air Force later confirmed that there were no survivors.

The tragedy claimed the lives of several military personnel, including Squadron Leader AP Man-Ugwueje, who was among the aircraft’s crew.

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Reports following the crash said Man-Ugwueje had recently been promoted and had married about two weeks before the tragedy.

Another victim, Flying Officer IM Adeshina, was also reportedly a relatively recent addition to the NAF and was said to have distinguished himself during his training.

The deaths have sent shockwaves through the Nigerian military, particularly because some of the personnel were reportedly preparing for further professional development when the tragedy occurred.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The Nigerian Air Force has also appealed to the public to avoid speculation and the circulation of unverified information while the investigation continues.

For the four engineers, what was expected to be the beginning of an important phase in their military careers ended in tragedy, with their planned foreign training cut short by the fatal aircraft crash.