*Atiku Disagrees
THE Presidency has downplayed the effect of the ruling of a court in the United States (US) ordering the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to release documents relating to President Bola Tinubu, saying the contents of such records are neither new nor incriminating, having been in the public domain for over 30 years.
In a statement on Sunday, April 13 on his official X account, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said: “There is nothing new to be revealed. The report by Agent Moss of the FBI and the DEA report have been in the public space for more than 30 years.
“The reports did not indict the Nigerian leader. The lawyers are examining the ruling.”
The order by Judge Beryl Howell of the US District Court for the District of Columbia, directing the FBI and DEA to release non-exempt documents relating to past investigations involving Tinubu was sequel to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed by American researcher, Aaron Greenspan, seeking access to records concerning the Tinubu’s alleged links to a historic drug trafficking case.
The FBI and DEA must comply with Greenspan’s FOIA submissions relating to a Chicago-based narcotics ring from the early 1990s, “involving Tinubu and three others- Lee Andrew Edwards, Mueez Akande and Abiodun Agbele.”
In her ruling, Howell noted that both the FBI and DEA had “officially confirmed investigations of Tinubu relating to the drug trafficking ring,” saying any potential privacy interests were outweighed by the public’s right to know and that the FBI and DEA have failed to meet their burden to sustain their Glomar responses.
This was in reference to their earlier refusal to confirm or deny the existence of records; hence the Judge ordered that they now “search for and process non-exempt records responsive to the FOIA requests.
While the CIA was also included in the original suit, the court upheld its Glomar response, granting the agency summary judgment and allowing it to withhold any relevant records and directed all remaining parties to submit a joint report on the status of any outstanding issues in the case by May 2.
The Presidency, in a statement, insisted that the ruling does not bring new revelations to light, maintaining that Tinubu was never indicted in any investigation, adding: “These reports have circulated since the 1990s. There is no criminal record, no indictment, and nothing to suggest wrongdoing by President Tinubu.”
Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, speaking on a television programme, stated that the information being sought would not be different from what was already in the public domain, adding that the buzz around the topic was mainly because of the way the media and opposition interpreted it.
“Nothing’s new at all. So, let’s wait for the 2nd of May, because there is actually nothing that they are seeking for which has not been released. I mean it is intended to create unnecessary conversation as if there is an issue on the table.
“So, there is nothing actually in what was published in the ruling of the court that is new. Everything has been in the public domain for ages. But you know, the opposition will want to feast on it, because in the absence of better ideas, that is the only thing they can cling on to, in the hope that they will probably misinterpret the public.”
However, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, disagreed and welcomed the court’s order, arguing that if the disclosed records prove the President ineligible to hold office, he “should step aside” for the sake of Nigeria’s image.
Atiku, in a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, said “anyone occupying the Presidency must not be of tainted character,” adding that the entire fiasco underscored the need for “full disclosure” on matters such as alleged forfeitures and academic credentials.
According to the statement: “What it means is that the efforts of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar will not be in vain, and what will be uncovered is His Excellency’s attempt to ascertain exactly what transpired, the circumstances surrounding the forfeiture of thousands of dollars allegedly linked to drug trafficking, and the issue concerning the Chicago State University certificate.
“The reason is clear, the matter of the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, whoever occupies that position must not be someone of tainted character.
“The government must ensure full disclosure. It is important; Nigerians need to know the background, academic records, age, state of origin and schools the leader attended.”
Atiku underscored the importance of the ruling, saying: “The fact that this issue concerns the government and the occupant of the office makes it even more significant. This is not just about Nigeria; this is the foremost Black nation in the world, the most populous. And so we mean something to people around the world, especially the global Black community.
“It’s actually about time, and it’s a welcome development, so we can clear the air about the issues that have been raised. Well, it’s not even just about future elections.”
The former vice president said if found wanting, the President must vacate office to quit “dragging the country into shame,” adding: “If it’s established that the President, based on the revealed records, is not qualified, then the honourable thing for him to do would be to step aside. That would be the natural course of action. He shouldn’t continue to drag the country into shame.
“We are a nation governed by laws. Our young people are watching closely. They are observing how we respond in moments like this.”
