By News Desk
WASHINGTON — A U.S.-based lobbying firm engaged by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has publicly accused President Bola Tinubu of attempting to suppress the release of U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) records concerning a 1990s narcotics investigation and civil forfeiture case.
In a public statement released via social media, lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York alleged that Tinubu formally joined a DOJ request seeking additional time to respond to an ongoing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit before a federal court in Washington.
High-Stakes Legal Clash Over Historical Records
The lobbying firm’s statement references the ongoing FOIA lawsuit, Greenspan v. Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys et al., pending before U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell in the District of Columbia.
The lawsuit, filed by transparency activist Aaron Greenspan, seeks records from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and other U.S. law enforcement agencies concerning historical investigations and a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding in Illinois involving bank accounts linked to Tinubu.
The latest developments in the case include:
- Joinder Motion: The lobbying firm reported obtaining court filings showing that legal representatives for Tinubu joined the DOJ in seeking a 10-day extension to comply with court-ordered disclosures.
- Judicial Ruling: Judge Howell declined the requested 10-day extension, granting only a short four-day extension setting an August 21, 2026, deadline for the government and Tinubu to submit their filings.
- Lobbying Allegations: Von Batten-Montague-York asserted that the extension request was aimed at delaying disclosure to enable diplomatic lobbying in Washington, alleging that Tinubu’s administration fears the political fallout ahead of the 2027 presidential election season.
Denials and Legal Background
President Tinubu has consistently denied any wrongdoing regarding the 1990s civil forfeiture case, which ended in a negotiated settlement resulting in the forfeiture of funds without a criminal conviction or formal indictment against him.
The issue previously formed part of political petitions challenging Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election. Nigeria’s Presidential Election Petition Court and Supreme Court subsequently dismissed those challenges, affirming his election.
Neither the Presidency nor the Department of Justice has publicly confirmed any diplomatic lobbying effort surrounding the ongoing FOIA litigation.
