News
Tinubu Drug-Case Files: US Judge Reportedly Orders Private FBI Review as Disclosure Fight Deepens
By Rukevwe Odeh
August 22, 2026
A fresh development has emerged in the long-running legal battle over the possible release of United States government records relating to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with a Washington-based lobbying firm claiming that a US federal judge has authorised the FBI to submit the disputed documents for private judicial review.
The claim was made by Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., in an update posted on X concerning a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case involving records sought from the FBI and other US government agencies.
According to the lobbying firm, Judge Beryl Howell of the US District Court for the District of Columbia has permitted the FBI to submit the documents to the court in camera—a legal process under which a judge examines sensitive materials privately before determining whether they can be released.
The firm further claimed that the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), US Department of Justice (DOJ), and President Tinubu have until August 28, 2026, to file their opposition to the release of the records.
However, as of the time of filing this report, the reported order had not been independently verified through the court docket.
FOIA Case Dating Back to 2022
The dispute originated from FOIA requests filed between 2022 and 2023 by American citizen Aaron Greenspan, who sought records from the FBI, DEA, Internal Revenue Service and other US agencies relating to a 1990s investigation into alleged heroin trafficking in Chicago.
The case has continued to attract attention because of records linked to a 1993 civil forfeiture involving $460,000 in funds associated with Tinubu.
Tinubu was not criminally charged in connection with the forfeiture and has consistently described the matter as a civil settlement.
Judge Previously Rejected FBI’s ‘Glomar’ Position
The latest development follows a significant ruling in April 2025, when Judge Howell rejected attempts by the FBI and DEA to rely on a “Glomar response”—a legal position that permits government agencies to refuse to confirm or deny whether particular records exist.
Judge Howell reportedly found the agencies’ position “neither logical nor plausible”, noting that the agencies had previously acknowledged investigations connected to Tinubu.
She subsequently directed the agencies to release records that were not protected under FOIA exemptions, while also finding that the public interest in disclosure could outweigh certain privacy concerns.
What an In-Camera Review Could Mean
If the latest claim is confirmed, the reported in-camera review would give Judge Howell an opportunity to examine the disputed records privately and determine whether portions of the material are protected from public disclosure.
Such protections could cover information relating to confidential law-enforcement sources, investigative techniques, sensitive methods and other matters protected under FOIA exemptions.
Von Batten-Montague-York also claimed that the FBI had acknowledged possessing “highly sensitive drug-trafficking-related information” concerning Tinubu and argued that a private judicial review was appropriate to protect confidential sources and sensitive information.
Informant Allegation Remains Unconfirmed
The lobbying firm also repeated an allegation that Tinubu had allegedly provided information about supposed co-conspirators in exchange for immunity.
However, there is no established US court finding that Tinubu acted as an informant, and the allegation has not been independently confirmed by the FBI or the US Department of Justice.
The claim should therefore be treated as an allegation rather than an established fact.
Political Dimension
The lobbying firm also contrasted the handling of the case under the administrations of former President Joe Biden and current President Donald Trump, while expressing appreciation to Trump and White House officials for what it described as progress in the matter.
Public filings indicate that Von Batten-Montague-York was retained by former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar in March 2026 to provide services aimed at protecting and strengthening his reputation in the United States.
Meanwhile, the FBI, DEA and DOJ have previously requested additional time to compile and review records connected to the FOIA litigation.
Tinubu’s US legal representatives have not publicly commented on the latest reported development.
If the lobbying firm’s account is eventually confirmed by the court docket, the reported private review would represent another important stage in the legal battle over whether records relating to the decades-old investigation should ultimately be released to the public.
News
A boat carrying nearly 270 people has capsized off northern Cyprus as a search and rescue operation is under way.
By: Miracle Orumor
A major search and rescue operation is under way off the coast of northern Cyprus after a boat carrying nearly 270 people capsized in the Mediterranean Sea.
The vessel was reportedly carrying 267 people, including 259 passengers and eight crew members, when it ran into trouble during its journey.
Emergency teams, including coastguard vessels, helicopters and Turkish rescue personnel, were deployed to the area as authorities launched a massive operation to save survivors and locate those still missing.
Several people have been rescued, while authorities continue searching the waters for other passengers. The exact number of casualties and missing persons remains unclear as the rescue operation continues.
The cause of the capsizing has not yet been officially confirmed, and authorities have launched an investigation into what led to the maritime disaster.
The incident has sparked growing concern among families of those on board as rescue teams race against time to find survivors.
Authorities are expected to provide further updates as the search and rescue operation continues.
This is a developing story. More details are expected to emerge.
News
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and South African Police Service (SAPS) are investigating a video circulating on social media that appears to show a soldier slapping a woman during a planned joint operation in Mitchells Plain on Friday.
By: Miracle Orumor
CAPE TOWN — The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) are investigating a viral video that appears to show a soldier slapping a woman during a joint security operation in Mitchells Plain.
The incident reportedly occurred on Friday during a planned operation involving members of the SANDF and SAPS in the Cape Town community.
The footage, which has been widely circulated on social media, has sparked outrage and renewed concerns over the conduct of security personnel deployed in crime-hit communities.
Both the SANDF and SAPS have launched investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine whether any misconduct took place.
The latest incident comes amid continued scrutiny of Operation Prosper, a joint security operation involving the military and police in several Western Cape communities affected by high levels of violent crime.
Previous allegations linked to the operation have raised concerns about the treatment of civilians and the accountability of security personnel accused of misconduct.
The investigation into the latest incident is expected to determine what led to the confrontation and whether the soldier involved could face disciplinary or further legal action.
Authorities have previously maintained that security personnel deployed during joint operations are expected to act within the law and respect the rights and dignity of members of the public.
The SANDF and SAPS investigations are ongoing.
News
Two jets – one wrapped in green and one in black – coupled with an astonishing double flyover over the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday, mere moments before the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry test match between South Africa and New Zealand, had the entire world buzzing.
By: Miracle Orumor
CAPE TOWN — A heart-stopping aviation spectacle over DHL Stadium went viral on Saturday, leaving 55,000 rugby fans breathless and sending social media into a frenzy just minutes before South Africa faced New Zealand in their Test match.
A commercial Embraer E190 passenger jet operated by Airlink—bearing a custom “Go Bokke” logo on its underside—executed a precise, ultra-low flyover directly above the open-roof stadium.
Approaching from a holding pattern near Robben Island, the airliner thundered over the venue, passing through pyrotechnic smoke erupting from the roofline before banking hard over Table Mountain. Spectator footage instantly flooded platforms like TikTok and X, with millions debating the aircraft’s proximity to the stadium superstructure.
Data from flight-tracking service Flightradar24 revealed that the jet descended to roughly 200 feet above sea level. With DHL Stadium standing about 164 feet tall, the plane passed just tens of feet above the roofline. Aviation experts noted that long broadcast lenses created an optical illusion, making the aircraft appear even closer to the stadium than it actually was.
Airlink confirmed the flight was thoroughly planned, rehearsed, and fully approved by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), with three senior captains inside the cockpit managing the display.
The maneuver pays homage to South Africa’s iconic 1995 Rugby World Cup final, where a South African Airways Boeing 747 famously buzzed Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg.
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