FBI warns of assassination risk to agents if Tinubu drug trafficking records are made public

This warning was issued in a court filing responding to a Freedom of Information Act FOIA lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed by American transparency activist Aaron Greenspan, who is seeking records concerning Tinubu's alleged drug activities in the US during the 1980s and 1990s. The FBI cited FOIA Exemption 7F and other privacy exemptions, explaining that disclosing certain information could expose individuals involved in investigations to retaliation from third parties connected to criminal activities. The bureau emphasized that releasing names or identifying details could endanger lives and physical safety, and that individuals mentioned in investigative records might consider the information derogatory or incriminating.

This filing follows a court order for the FBI to explain why records related to the Tinubu investigation should remain withheld. The FBI and other US agencies have previously faced criticism for delays in releasing these records, including documents linked to a 1993 civil forfeiture case where $460,000 associated with Tinubu was forfeited to the US government.