The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned that releasing some records relating to President Bola Tinubu could endanger the lives or physical safety of individuals.
The agency made the disclosure in an application filed before the US District Court for the District of Columbia on August 20, asking the court for permission to privately explain why some of the documents have been withheld.
The FBI said it could not publicly disclose the full reasons for withholding certain records because doing so could expose sensitive law-enforcement techniques and procedures.
It is seeking an ex parte, in camera declaration, which would allow it to provide the judge with its explanation privately and under seal.
The records were requested by Aaron Greenspan, founder of PlainSite, who filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for documents relating to Tinubu from 1992 and 1993.
Among the requested materials are Tinubu’s entire FBI file and interview records connected to an FBI case.
In its application, the FBI said it had invoked several exemptions under the US Freedom of Information Act, including provisions covering personal privacy, confidential sources, law-enforcement techniques and information that could endanger an individual.
“The FBI has determined that it cannot provide on the public record the full basis for the application of Exemptions 7(E) and 7(F) to certain withholdings and that, therefore, an ex parte, under seal declaration is necessary,” the agency said.
Under the exemptions cited by the FBI, Section 7(E) covers information that could disclose law-enforcement techniques and procedures, while Section 7(F) covers information that could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of an individual.
The FBI said it would submit the confidential declaration before August 28 if the court grants its request.
The development is the latest step in a prolonged legal dispute over requests for US government records concerning allegations linked to Tinubu and a Chicago drug investigation dating back to the early 1990s.
The case began after Greenspan filed multiple FOIA requests with six US federal agencies seeking records relating to Tinubu.
The FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other agencies initially refused to confirm or deny whether some of the requested records existed.
However, in April 2025, Judge Beryl Howell ruled that the FBI and DEA had failed to sufficiently justify their refusal to confirm or deny the existence of records concerning Tinubu.
The judge ordered the agencies to lift their so-called “Glomar” responses, a legal position that allows agencies to neither confirm nor deny the existence of requested records in certain circumstances.
The latest application comes as the US Department of Justice continues to respond to court orders concerning the requested records.
Tinubu’s legal team had also sought additional time to respond, but Judge Howell reportedly declined the request for a 10-day extension.
The FBI’s latest request does not by itself establish what information is contained in the withheld records or why its disclosure could pose a safety risk. The agency is asking the court to allow it to explain the basis for the withholding privately before the judge.
