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US Judge Issues Fresh Order To FBI, DEA Over Delay In Releasing Tinubu’s 1990s Records
A United States federal judge has openly criticised the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for prolonged delays in releasing records linked to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
The records were requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by transparency advocate Aaron Greenspan in 2022.
They relate to a long-standing narcotics investigation from the early 1990s, during which Tinubu forfeited $460,000 to the US government.
Judge Beryl A. Howell of the US District Court for the District of Columbia expressed frustration over what she described as endless postponements by both agencies.
In a ruling dated February 3, she said the case had dragged on for more than three years without meaningful progress.
According to court filings, the FBI and DEA have repeatedly missed court-ordered deadlines, offering new dates without clear explanations.
Judge Howell warned that the delays were unacceptable and issued firm instructions that must be followed.
In 2023, the FBI announced plans to release about 2,500 pages of Tinubu’s records in batches of 500 pages per month.
However, the process was halted after Tinubu objected, arguing that releasing the documents could negatively affect him while his presidential election victory was still before Nigeria’s Supreme Court.
Judge Howell approved the pause at the time. But even after the Supreme Court upheld Tinubu’s election, the FBI and DEA continued to seek further extensions.
Judge Howell noted that the FBI had failed to release a single document, despite several projected completion dates that were repeatedly shifted.
She said the bureau had not provided a reliable end date for producing the requested records.
Her ruling highlighted how deadlines moved from August 2025 to September, then December, January 2026, and again to February, with what she described as minimal justification.
While the DEA has released some documents, Judge Howell criticised the agency for withholding others without clear timelines.
The DEA claimed some files were sent to other agencies for consultation but did not say when reviews would be completed.
The judge ordered the DEA to submit a detailed Vaughn index explaining why 50 pages were redacted and 172 pages withheld.
For 12 remaining records, she directed a DEA agent to file sworn affidavits explaining, page by page, the status of each document and efforts made to speed up their release.
Judge Howell also instructed the FBI to submit sworn statements explaining its repeated failure to meet deadlines. She made it clear that continued delays would no longer be tolerated.
President Tinubu has consistently denied any involvement in drug trafficking, maintaining that he committed no wrongdoing.
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, says it has cancelled its sit at home order across the South East.
The group announced the decision in a statement on Saturday, saying it followed a directive from its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
According to IPOB, Kanu instructed the leadership to suspend the action in the interest of peace and the return of normal economic activities in the region.
The group said the move is aimed at easing hardship on residents and allowing businesses, schools and other daily activities to run without disruption.
IPOB urged people in the South East to go about their lawful activities. It also reaffirmed its commitment to non violence and peaceful engagement.
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Unidentified gunmen, suspected to be cultists, have k!lled a community leader and one other person in Anambra State.
The President-General of Ogidi community in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Ikwuka Okoye, popularly known as Anumili (pictured above), was k!lled on Friday, Feb. 6.
The attack was alleged to have been carried out by members of a rival cult group in revenge for the de@th of their leader, who was arrested and k!lled by local security operatives.
During the attack, which took place at the School Field, Ogidi, another man whose identity has yet to be ascertained was also gunned down.
The spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a press statement on Saturday.
Ikenga said the incident is allegedly linked to the recent capture and k!lling of a known notorious cultist within the community.
He said, “The Anambra State Police Command regrets the murd£r of the President-General of the Ogidi community and one other person. The incident, which occurred on the evening of February 6, 2026, at the School Field, Ogidi, is allegedly linked to the recent capture and k!lling of a known notorious cultist within the community.
“Following the report, police operatives swiftly took over the scene of the incident and commenced investigations. The command is currently working with eyewitness accounts and other available intelligence to identify and arrest the perpetrators.
“The Anambra State Police Command assures members of the public that all efforts are being intensified to bring those responsible to justice.
“Residents are urged to remain calm and cooperate with the police as investigations continue.
“Further developments will be communicated in due course.”
Men of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Lagos, have apprehended three suspects who allegedly run a cyber blackmail and extortion scheme in the state.
According to the spokesperson of the unit, DSP Ovie Ewhubare, the suspects get a hold of their victims explicit photos and then threaten to release them if a ransom is not paid.
He said that the suspects, two males and a female, were apprehended after a petition was filed by a complainant who reported being repeatedly threatened by unknown individuals demanding money.
“The complainant received several phone calls in which the callers threatened to release her nude photographs to the public if she failed to pay them. Acting out of fear and emotional distress, she transferred money to the suspects.
The situation escalated when the suspects demanded an additional N10 million, prompting her to formally petition the police,” he said
The police imagemaker state dthat upon receipt of the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, PSFU, Mr Kayode Ojapinwa, ordered the immediate deployment of operatives to investigate the matter.
“The investigation led to the arrest of the three suspects. Investigations revealed that one of the suspects gained unlawful access to the complainant’s mobile device and fraudulently transferred her nude photographs to his own device. Further findings indicated that he conspired with the other suspects and other accomplices currently at large to demand and receive money from the complainant in several tranches,” he said
According to him, the suspects are currently in police custody and are expected to be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.
The image maker said that investigations were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate and to recover all proceeds of the alleged crime.
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