Tinubu and Officials Sued Over Nigeria-US Health Agreement

A legal suit has been filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, Federal Minister of Health Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas. The suit, initiated by lawyer Bernard Adaafu, challenges a bilateral health agreement signed on December 19, 2025, between Nigeria and the United States.

Adaafu contends that the agreement allows for the collection and transfer of sensitive health data, including medical records and DNA samples, which violates the National Health Act of 2014 and the Data Protection Act of 2023. The plaintiff seeks to suspend the agreement's implementation, scheduled for April 1, 2026, and argues that it contravenes Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the right to privacy.

The suit raises concerns about the implications of sharing biological samples and the potential for creating tension in Nigeria's multi-faith society. Adaafu also questions the exclusivity of the agreement's assembly process and demands that the government renegotiate the terms and release the full text for public scrutiny.