A United States District Court has rejected a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit aimed at compelling various US law enforcement agencies, including the CIA and FBI, to expedite the release of confidential information related to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu. The case was brought by Aaron Greenspan, who accused the agencies of violating FOIA by not releasing documents concerning federal investigations into President Tinubu and Mueez Adegboyega Akande. The records were sought from the Northern District of Illinois and/or Northern District of Indiana regarding charging decisions against both individuals.
Mr. Tinubu had faced controversy in the past, forfeiting $460,000 to the US government due to its connection with proceeds of narcotics trafficking in 1993. This issue was central in the Presidential Election Petition Court, where it was raised during challenges to President Tinubu's eligibility for Nigeria's presidency. However, the court unanimously dismissed the suits, affirming his election.
Mr. Greenspan had sought the US court's intervention ahead of the Nigerian Supreme Court's hearing of Atiku Abubakar's case against President Tinubu's election. The US court refused the request, citing FOIA exemptions related to unwarranted invasions of personal privacy and law enforcement purposes.
The judge stated that Mr. Greenspan failed to demonstrate concrete, actual threats or injuries related to his request, and therefore the emergency motion to compel document production was denied. The judge also noted that the subject of these documents, Bola A. Tinubu, had not had an opportunity to protect his privacy interests.
This decision highlights the challenges of obtaining confidential information through FOIA in cases involving high-profile individuals and international diplomacy
