A United States federal judge has sharply criticised the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for repeatedly delaying the release of documents linked to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, describing the conduct as unacceptable and obstructive.
According to People’s Gazette, In a ruling dated February 3, 2026, Judge Beryl A. Howell faulted both agencies for missing multiple court deadlines in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case filed in 2022 by transparency advocate Aaron Greenspan. The request seeks records connected to a narcotics investigation in the early 1990s that resulted in Tinubu forfeiting $460,000 to the US government,an issue the Nigerian president has consistently denied involved any wrongdoing.
Judge Howell expressed frustration that the case has lingered for more than three years with little progress, noting that the FBI had failed to release a single document despite earlier commitments to produce about 2,500 pages in stages. She observed that the delays continued even after Nigeria’s Supreme Court upheld Tinubu’s election victory, which had earlier been cited as a reason for withholding the records.
The judge also criticised the DEA for withholding and redacting documents without adequate explanation. She ordered the agency to submit a detailed index justifying every withheld or redacted page, as well as sworn affidavits explaining the status of documents shared with other agencies for review.
Under the ruling, the FBI must file sworn statements explaining its failure to meet previous deadlines and present a clear timetable for releasing the remaining records. Both agencies were directed to release all non-exempt documents in batches, with final disclosure expected by June 1, 2026, and to submit joint progress reports every 14 days until full compliance. The CIA had earlier been dropped from the case after the court found no evidence it possessed relevant records.