The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have requested a 90-day extension from a U.S. federal court to release documents linked to an alleged 1990s drug investigation involving Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
The agencies made the request in a joint status report filed Thursday with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The case arises from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests filed by Aaron Greenspan, a transparency advocate and founder of PlainSite, who is pursuing records tied to a Chicago drug ring. Tinubu, along with three others—Lee Andrew Edwards, Mueez Abegboyega Akande, and Abiodun Agbele—is named in the filings.
Despite a court order from Judge Beryl Howell mandating updates by 2 May, both agencies claim they need until late July to complete their searches and identify non-exempt records.
Greenspan, however, strongly opposes the delay. He argues that key documents have already been located and insists that the agencies are stalling. “The defendants provide no rationale for why their search should take 90 days,” he stated, urging the court to order the release of unredacted documents within a week, and full compliance within 14 days.
Initially, both the FBI and DEA had issued “Glomar responses,” refusing to confirm or deny the existence of any records. The court later rejected this, ordering disclosure where possible.
Greenspan is also demanding reimbursement of $440.22 for filing fees and postage costs. The two sides further disagree on the next deadline for a court update—while the agencies suggest 31 July, Greenspan is pushing for 31 May.
As the legal tussle continues, the case is drawing renewed international attention amid questions over Tinubu’s past.
