The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have filed a joint request seeking a 90-day extension from a U.S. District Court to release documents relating to a decades-old drug investigation in which Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been named.
The request, which forms part of an ongoing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case, was submitted on Thursday to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The case was brought forward by Aaron Greenspan, a well-known U.S. transparency advocate and founder of the legal data platform, PlainSite. Greenspan is demanding the release of files tied to an alleged drug trafficking network in Chicago during the 1990s.
His FOIA request specifically names individuals believed to be connected to the alleged case, including President Tinubu, Lee Andrew Edwards, Mueez Abegboyega Akande, and Abiodun Agbele. The documents in question are believed to include investigative records maintained by both the FBI and DEA.
In a previous ruling, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell had instructed both agencies to provide an update on the search and review of the requested records by May 2, 2025. However, in their latest court filing, the FBI and DEA argued that they require more time to complete a thorough search for non-exempt, releasable documents.
Despite the agencies’ request for a three-month extension, Greenspan has objected strongly, describing the delay as unnecessary and unjustified. He insisted that the government agencies have already located relevant materials and should begin releasing them immediately. He proposed that any additional records could be delivered within 14 days, rather than the extended timeline being proposed.
Greenspan further accused the agencies of stalling, highlighting that his FOIA requests were originally submitted as far back as 2022 and 2023. Initially, the FBI and DEA responded with what is known as a “Glomar response,” refusing to confirm or deny the existence of such records. However, the court later ruled that this approach was insufficient, ordering both agencies to proceed with document disclosure in accordance with FOIA provisions.
The latest legal filing also reflects a dispute over when the next case update should be submitted. The FBI and DEA are asking for a new status report to be filed on July 31, while Greenspan is pressing for a much earlier May 31 deadline. Additionally, he is seeking reimbursement for $440.22 in legal and mailing expenses incurred during the legal battle.
The unfolding case continues to draw significant attention both in the United States and Nigeria, given the sensitivity of the allegations and the high-profile nature of the individuals involved.
