Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has offered an explanation for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s opposition to the public release of records held by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Omokri argued that the existence of FBI files containing Tinubu’s name should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of a criminal record.
In a statement shared on Monday, Omokri said US federal agencies can maintain records on individuals for a variety of reasons, including immigration, visa applications, background checks and other official processes.
According to him, the mere presence of a person’s name in an FBI database does not establish that the individual committed a crime.
Omokri: FBI Files Are Not Automatically Criminal Records
Omokri insisted that, in his view, Tinubu does not have a criminal record in the United States or elsewhere.
He explained that FBI databases may contain information generated through background screening and other government procedures.
Such records, he said, can include personal information that has nothing to do with criminal activity.
Omokri also argued that records held by US authorities could contain sensitive details such as biometric, biographical and financial information.
He questioned whether an ordinary individual would want such private information released publicly or made available to political opponents simply because it was held by a government agency.
Reference to 2003 Correspondence
In defending his position, Omokri referred to correspondence he said was exchanged in February 2003 between the US Embassy and Nigeria’s then Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun.
According to Omokri, Balogun had requested information from the US Embassy concerning whether US authorities held criminal records relating to Tinubu, who was then governor of Lagos State.
Omokri claimed that the US Embassy responded the following day and provided what he described as an “all clear” concerning criminal records.
He further said he personally examined Tinubu’s academic and other records during a visit to Chicago in 2022.
Omokri challenged those questioning the authenticity of the correspondence to seek confirmation directly from the US Embassy.
Tinubu Challenges Release of FBI and DEA Records
The comments come as a legal dispute continues in the United States over efforts to obtain records relating to the Nigerian President.
Tinubu’s legal team has asked a US federal court in Washington, DC, to reject a request seeking the release of unredacted records held by the FBI and DEA.
His lawyers have argued that US privacy laws and exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provide grounds for withholding the requested material.
They have also disputed the argument that there is a sufficient public-interest basis under US law to release the records.
The legal dispute followed a FOIA request by American transparency activist Aaron Greenspan.
US authorities have cited several FOIA exemptions in relation to portions of the records, including provisions concerning personal privacy, confidential sources, investigative methods and the safety of individuals.
Why the Records Remain Controversial
Questions surrounding Tinubu’s history in the United States have been part of Nigerian political debates for decades, particularly since the 2023 presidential election.
One frequently discussed matter involves a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding in Illinois involving approximately $460,000 in funds linked to Tinubu.
US authorities alleged that the money represented proceeds connected to narcotics trafficking or prohibited financial transactions, while the case resulted in forfeiture rather than a criminal conviction against Tinubu.
The distinction between civil forfeiture proceedings and a criminal conviction has remained central to arguments surrounding the issue.
As the latest US court proceedings continue, the dispute over Tinubu’s FBI and DEA records is likely to remain a subject of intense political and public interest in Nigeria.
For now, Omokri maintains that the existence of government files does not by itself prove criminal conduct, while the legal proceedings will determine whether additional records can be released under US law.
