US Judge Issues Ultimatum to FBI, DEA Over Release of Bola Tinubu's Criminal Records

A US District Court Judge, Beryl Howell, has rebuked the FBI and DEA for stalling the release of Bola Tinubu's criminal records, which were requested under the Freedom of Information Act in 2022. The request was filed by transparency advocate Aaron Greenspan and investigative journalist David Hundeyin.

Tinubu, a Nigerian political figure, is linked to a narcotics-related case from the early 1990s, resulting in a forfeiture of $460,000 to the US government. Despite repeated delays by the FBI and DEA, Judge Howell has set deadlines for the agencies to release the records, with the FBI expected to release 2,500 pages in monthly tranches.

Tinubu has opposed the disclosure, citing potential adverse effects on his political career. The court has ordered the agencies to provide detailed explanations for redactions and delays in the document release process.