The Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned a US court that making public some files linked to President Bola Tinubu could put lives at risk.
The warning is the latest turn in the long-running Freedom of Information Act, FOIA, case seeking access to alleged drug-trafficking records connected to the Nigerian president.
A new update on the case was shared on X by a Washington-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C.
According to the firm, Judge Beryl Howell of the US District Court for the District of Columbia took a decisive step on Friday, August 21.
The judge granted the FBI permission to submit the disputed documents directly to the court in private. This is known as an in-camera review.
It means the judge will see the files first, away from the public, before deciding whether they should be released.
Why the FBI wants a private review
The FBI told the court the material it holds is highly sensitive.
The agency acknowledged it has sensitive information relating to allegations of drug trafficking involving Tinubu.
Its request for a private review, the firm noted, it shows the FBI believes the content is too delicate for open filing.
The firm also alleged that the records may contain details about criminal informants.
That claim, if true, would contradict the earlier suggestion that the case was only about civil forfeiture. The FBI’s main argument is that public disclosure could endanger lives.
What the court ordered next
Judge Howell has now given all interested parties a firm deadline to respond.
The FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, DEA, the Department of Justice, DOJ, and President Tinubu have until August 28, 2026, and no later, to file their opposition to the release.
The lobbying firm pointed to the phrase "and no later" as a signal. It believes the court is showing it has reached its limit on delays.
The next step is clear. The FBI must now convince the judge why the documents should stay sealed, using its private submission as evidence.
What we know so far
Obgist News notes that this information is based on the law firm’s post on X as of Friday evening.
As of press time, the order had not yet appeared on the official court docket.
The FOIA case itself has been on for years. It seeks to compel US agencies to release files from a purported 1990s investigation.
The court will now review the sensitive files in private before deciding whether the public interest outweighs the risk the FBI has flagged.
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