The Federal Bureau of Investigation has told a US court that disclosing certain records linked to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu could expose its agents and informants to violent retaliation.
In a court filing on Friday, the FBI cited Freedom of Information Act exemptions to justify withholding documents sought in ongoing litigation before Judge Beryl Howell of the US District Court for the District of Columbia.
The case arises from FOIA requests by American transparency activist Aaron Greenspan seeking records on alleged drug trafficking activities involving Tinubu in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as related immigration and CIA material.
The bureau said the information “would shed light on the criminal activities of third parties” who might retaliate against those who participated in or cooperated with the investigation.
“Additionally, whether they provided information or participated in the investigation as law enforcement personnel, it is likely these individuals would be violently targeted by third parties involved in the criminal activities associated with this specific drug trafficking investigation or by members of the public,” the FBI stated in the filing submitted by US Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia.
“For these reasons, the FBI reasonably determined that the release of any of these individuals’ names or information in the context of these specific investigative records would endanger their lives or physical safety,” it added, invoking Exemption 7(F) alongside privacy and confidential-source protections.
The filing followed a deadline set by Judge Howell for the FBI to explain its continued withholding of the material and to submit the files for private judicial review.
Tinubu has previously argued that premature release of the records would adversely affect him. The FBI had earlier indicated plans to release batches of documents but later paused the process.
