The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have requested a 90-day extension to comply with a court order directing them to release documents related to an alleged Chicago drug ring from the early 1990s.
The request comes despite a May 2, 2025 deadline set by Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court in Columbia, following Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) filings by American legal researcher Aaron Greenspan, founder of the transparency platform PlainSite.
Between 2022 and 2023, Greenspan submitted 12 FOIA requests seeking information on four individuals reportedly tied to the ring: Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lee Andrew Edwards, Mueez Abegboyega Akande, and Abiodun Agbele.
According to the joint status report filed on May 1, the agencies said they need more time to complete their searches:
“The FBI and DEA have initiated their searches… and anticipate completing their searches in ninety days,” the report stated.
The documents in question concern FBI Request Nos. 1588244–000 and 1593615–000, and DEA Request Nos. 22–00892-F and 24–00201-F.
However, Greenspan has strongly objected to the delay and has urged the court to shorten the extension, accusing the agencies of unnecessarily stalling a matter of public interest.
The case has drawn international attention due to the inclusion of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu among the named individuals. Greenspan is closely linked with investigative Nigerian journalist David Hundeyin, who has also explored the matter in his reporting.
As the legal battle unfolds, the spotlight remains on the FBI and DEA’s transparency obligations, and whether the records—if released—will shed light on one of the most controversial allegations tied to Nigeria’s political elite.
