FBI Confirms Tinubu's 1990s Drug Investigation Details

The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed in a sworn court declaration that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was investigated for drug-related crimes in the early 1990s. This declaration, filed on August 28, 2026, in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, clarified that the confirmation does not equate to a finding of guilt.

The records were compiled during an investigation of multiple individuals for drug-related crimes. The requests for these records were initiated by Aaron Greenspan, who sought the entire FBI file for Tinubu, including FBI Form 302 documents from Case No. 245-IP-71386-UUUUUU, covering 1992 to 1993.

The case gained traction after a ruling by US District Judge Beryl Howell in April 2025, which directed the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration to process records not exempt under the Freedom of Information Act. Despite this, the FBI has withheld portions of the documents for reasons including personal privacy and safety concerns.

The declaration has led to political backlash, with Special Adviser Sunday Dare accusing former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of using the situation for political leverage ahead of the 2027 presidential election.