US court blocks Greenspan's bid to drag Tinubu into FOIA case
A US federal court in Washington DC yesterday rejected Aaron Greenspan's attempt to compel evidence from President Bola Tinubu and DCI Group in a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the FBI and DEA.
The District Court ruled on October 30 that Greenspan's proposed discovery into alleged cyberattacks on his website was irrelevant to the core FOIA dispute. The court also denied his motion for summary judgment, rejected a request for judicial notice, and blocked Karl Von Batten — who isn't a party to the case — from filing an amicus brief.
Attorney Christopher W. Carmichael said the decision clarifies that the FOIA proceeding cannot be used to pursue unrelated discovery. Fellow attorney Oluwole Afolabi confirmed the denials. The underlying FOIA litigation against the FBI and DEA continues.
For Nigerians watching, this removes Tinubu from a US legal fight that had sparked speculation about potential exposure. The court's narrow focus on the actual FOIA questions — not side allegations — suggests the case proceeds on its original merits without political distraction.
What does this ruling signal about the limits of using US courts to investigate foreign leaders?