Tinubu Scrambles to Block U.S. Records Release

President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria is in yet another scramble to block records relating to him from being disclosed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and other United States agencies.

Court filings seen by Peoples Gazette show that Tinubu's lawyers in the US have filed motions to appear in an ongoing freedom of information (FOIA) action brought against the US organizations. The FOIA lawsuit was filed by Aaron Greenspan, the proprietor of PlainSite, a website that pushes anti-corruption and transparency in public service.

The FOIA lawsuit seeks to compel the US agencies to release records that may help answer questions about Tinubu's real identity and decades-long endeavors. Tinubu has been accused of drug trafficking and other crimes in the US, and there are questions about whether he falsified his academic records.

Tinubu's lawyers have argued that he has a right to privacy and that the release of the records would damage his reputation. However, Greenspan has argued that the public has a right to know the truth about Tinubu's past.

The FOIA lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial on October 31, 2023. Tinubu's lawyers are working to file a full argument soonest in order to stand a chance of being able to argue any reliefs before the deadline.

Tinubu's move to block the release of the records comes two weeks after he lost a fierce battle to block a federal court in Chicago from releasing his academic records to Atiku Abubakar, his main political rival in Nigeria. The school ultimately released the records, which showed that a certain Bola Tinubu was admitted into the school in 1977.

However, the school also said under oath that it could not authenticate the certificate that Tinubu used to run for office in Nigeria in June 2022. This has raised further questions about Tinubu's identity and qualifications.

It is unclear what has informed Tinubu's expectation that he can block US agencies from complying with federal disclosure regulations. His lawyers have not responded to requests for comment.

However, Tinubu's actions suggest that he is deeply concerned about the potential fallout from the release of the records. The records could contain damaging information about his past, which could damage his reputation and political career.

The public has a right to know the truth about Tinubu's past. The release of the records would help to shed light on his character, qualifications, and fitness for office.