The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have jointly requested a 90-day extension from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to finalize the release of documents related to a historic drug investigation allegedly involving Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This development was disclosed in a joint status report filed on Thursday, May 1, as part of an ongoing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit initiated by American legal transparency advocate and PlainSite founder, Aaron Greenspan.
The FOIA requests seek to uncover records tied to a 1990s Chicago-based drug trafficking network, with Greenspan naming Tinubu alongside three other individuals: Lee Andrew Edwards, Mueez Abegboyega Akande, and Abiodun Agbele.
Court History and Filing Details
Judge Beryl Howell had previously ordered the FBI and DEA to update the court by May 2, 2025, on their progress in identifying and releasing non-exempt, reasonably segregable records. However, in their recent filing, both agencies stated they needed until late July to complete their searches.
“The FBI and DEA have initiated their searches… and anticipate completing their searches in ninety days,” the report read.
The agencies referenced FOIA Request Nos. 1588244-000, 1593615-000 (FBI) and 22- 00892-F, 24- 00201-F (DEA) as the basis for their ongoing search.
Greenspan Opposes Delay
Greenspan, the plaintiff, strongly objected to the proposed delay, arguing that relevant documents have already been identified and that the agencies have delayed the process for years.
“The FBI and DEA provide no valid reason for why their search should require an additional 90 days,” Greenspan stated, proposing that the agencies produce unredacted documents within a week, with the remainder to follow in no more than 14 days.
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The FOIA requests, filed between 2022 and 2023, originally received “Glomar responses” from the agencies, refusing to confirm or deny the existence of records. However, the court deemed that stance invalid, ordering partial or full disclosures where appropriate.
Cost Reimbursement and Status Report Dispute
Greenspan also disclosed plans to seek reimbursement of $440.22 in filing and mailing costs, including $402.00 for court fees and $38.22 for certified postage.
Meanwhile, both sides disagree on the next reporting deadline:
- The FBI and DEA propose July 31, 2025.
- Greenspan is pushing for an earlier deadline of May 31, 2025.
The outcome of this legal battle may lead to the release of documents that could further ignite public interest and scrutiny surrounding past allegations involving President Tinubu’s alleged ties to U.S. investigations in the 1990s.
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