A US-based policy advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has alleged that President Bola Tinubu spent millions of dollars to prevent the release of records linked to historical investigations involving him.
The firm made the claim in a Tuesday post on X amid an ongoing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) legal battle over records held by US law-enforcement agencies.
According to the firm, Tinubu’s legal team challenged the release of the documents and engaged with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
It claimed the actions contradicted suggestions that the Nigerian president was not trying to stop the records from becoming public.
“Despite claiming innocence, Tinubu has spent millions of dollars to ensure that his drug trafficking records are never released,” the firm alleged.
The firm also argued that while the underlying proceedings were civil, the involvement of US law-enforcement agencies suggested that sensitive investigative materials were at the centre of the dispute.
The controversy involves records reportedly held by the US Department of Justice, FBI and DEA concerning historical investigations linked to Tinubu.
However, the firm’s claims remain allegations and do not establish that Tinubu committed any drug-related offence or personally spent the amount alleged.
The FOIA proceedings are focused on whether certain government records should be released under US disclosure laws.
The latest claims are likely to intensify political debate in Nigeria, particularly ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
