The FBI and DEA have requested a 90-day extension to release records related to an alleged drug investigation involving President Bola Tinubu, after previously being ordered to release them by May 2, 2025. The case stems from a FOIA lawsuit filed by activist Aaron Greenspan, who is frustrated by the agencies' delays.

In a surprising turn of events, the much-anticipated records, which were expected to be released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) regarding an alleged drug investigation involving President Bola Tinubu, will not be released today as initially planned.

Back in April, Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia had ordered the FBI and DEA to release the documents by May 2, 2025. However, on Thursday, May 1, the agencies filed a joint status report with the court requesting a 90-day extension to produce the records.

This case originated from a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed in June 2023 by U.S. transparency activist Aaron Greenspan. The lawsuit sought access to investigative records from several U.S. federal agencies concerning a 1990s drug trafficking and money laundering case in Chicago, which was allegedly linked to Tinubu and others.

Court documents reveal that Greenspan filed 12 separate FOIA requests between 2022 and 2023 directed at the FBI, DEA, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Department of State, U.S. Attorneys' Offices in Indiana and Illinois, and the CIA. These requests focused on obtaining documents about four individuals: Bola Tinubu, Mueez Akande, Lee Andrew Edwards, and Abiodun Agbele, who were all allegedly associated with the drug ring.

However, in their latest filing, the FBI and DEA stated that they required more time to complete their searches for the requested records. The report stated, “Aaron Greenspan (“Plaintiff”) and Defendants Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the only remaining defendants in this case, respectfully submit the following joint status report proposing a schedule to govern further proceedings, pursuant to the Court’s Order of April 8, 2025 (ECF №47)."

It continued, “Pursuant to the court’s order, the defendants, FBI and DEA, must search for and produce non-exempt records responsive to the plaintiff’s FOIA requests (FBI Requests Nos. 1588244–000 and 1593615-000, and DEA Request Nos. 22–00892-F and 24–00201-F). The FBI and DEA have initiated their searches for responsive, non-exempt, reasonably segregable portions of records requested by the plaintiff and anticipate completing their searches in ninety days.”

Despite this, the request for an extension has sparked frustration from Greenspan. The activist proposed a much shorter deadline, arguing that the agencies had already delayed the process for several years.