A U.S. federal judge has ruled that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is within its rights to refuse the release of any files concerning Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, citing a lack of evidence that the agency ever gathered intelligence on him.
In a ruling issued on April 8, 2025, Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. upheld the CIA’s “Glomar response,” which allows the agency to neither confirm nor deny the existence of records in response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.
The case, initiated by U.S. transparency advocate Aaron Greenspan and Nigerian journalist David Hundeyin, sought access to documents regarding Tinubu’s past, including allegations of his involvement in drug trafficking during the 1990s. However, Judge Howell determined that the plaintiffs failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove that the CIA had any relevant records. Consequently, she ruled to dismiss the agency from the lawsuit.
Despite this setback, Judge Howell directed the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to continue their searches for non-exempt records related to Tinubu, which could serve the public interest. Both agencies had previously released documents in 2023 and 2024 detailing an investigation into Tinubu's alleged connection to drug trafficking in the early 1990s. This investigation ultimately resulted in the forfeiture of $460,000 in a 1993 Chicago court case.
The allegations resurfaced during Nigeria’s 2023 presidential election, sparking controversy and raising questions about Tinubu’s qualifications for office. Tinubu has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with the matter.
Judge Howell acknowledged that while the FBI and DEA initially hesitated to release the records, they eventually complied with FOIA requirements. She has now ordered both agencies to provide a joint update on the progress of their searches by May 2, 2025.
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