US firm claims Tinubu blocking release of alleged US drug trafficking records ahead of 2027 election
Von Batten-Montague-York, a US-based policy advisory firm, stated on its verified X handle Saturday that President Bola Tinubu is legally fighting to prevent the release of alleged heroin-trafficking records from US agencies DOJ, FBI and DEA. The firm says Tinubu cited privacy rights and argued the records are sought to influence foreign politics and undermine his 2027 re-election bid, adding that Nigerians' interest in his background does not override FOIA restrictions.
According to the firm, Tinubu has pleaded with the court to block the records' release and previously joined the DOJ's request for a 10-day extension to respond to the motion. US District Judge Beryl Howell (Trump-appointed) has granted attorney Jeanine Pirro additional days to release the records. DAILY POST notes Tinubu had earlier supported the DOJ's extension request regarding these law-enforcement records.
The allegations remain unverified and originate from a single advocacy firm's social media post. No independent confirmation exists of the alleged records or Tinubu's direct involvement in blocking them. This surfaces amid ongoing scrutiny of Tinubu's past, including previous US legal cases related to his Chicago years that resurfaced during his 2023 presidential campaign.
Given the gravity of criminal allegations against a sitting president, how should Nigerians weigh unverified claims from advocacy groups against the need for transparent leadership ahead of the 2027 election?