A Washington-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., has claimed that a U.S. federal court has taken a new step in the long-running Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case seeking the release of alleged drug-trafficking records linked to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In an update posted on X, the firm said it had been informed that Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia this morning granted the FBI permission to submit the documents to the court privately, for in-camera review.

According to the post, the judge has given the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and President Tinubu until August 28, 2026, “and no later,” to file their opposition to the release of the records. The firm described the “and no later” language as a sign that the court has reached its limit.

The post reads: “We have now been informed that @uscourts Judge Howell this morning granted the @FBI permission to provide the court with the documents in private…

“This has not yet been published on the court docket as of this evening, and the claim is based solely on the law firm’s X post. Meta AI has not independently verified the August 28 date.”

Background

The case stems from FOIA requests filed by American Aaron Greenspan between 2022 and 2023 seeking records from the FBI, DEA, IRS and other agencies relating to a 1990s Chicago heroin trafficking investigation.

In April 2025, Judge Howell ruled that the FBI and DEA’s use of a “Glomar response” — neither confirming nor denying the existence of such records — was “neither logical nor plausible” after the agencies had already officially confirmed investigations relating to Tinubu.

Judge Howell ordered the agencies to release non-exempt documents, noting that privacy interests were outweighed by public interest. The investigation is linked to a 1993 civil forfeiture in which $460,000 in funds connected to Tinubu were forfeited to the U.S. government. Tinubu was not criminally charged and has consistently described the matter as a civil settlement.

Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., which public filings show was hired by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in March 2026 to “protect and strengthen his reputational standing” in the U.S, made two additional claims in its post:

The firm claims the FBI has now admitted it holds “highly sensitive drug-trafficking-related information” about President Tinubu, and that seeking private review is standard procedure for protecting informants.

The post contrasts the DOJ under President Joe Biden, which it says blocked and stonewalled, with the DOJ under President Donald Trump, which it says is “moving fast and being transparent.”

The firm repeats an unverified allegation that President Tinubu “ratted out his alleged co-drug traffickers in exchange for immunity.” No U.S. court has found Tinubu to have been an informant, and that allegation has not been confirmed by the FBI or DOJ.

The firm also thanked President Trump and White House senior staff for moving the case forward.

If the claim is accurate, the in-camera review would allow Judge Howell to privately assess whether the documents are exempt from release under FOIA, particularly exemptions that protect law enforcement sources and methods, before issuing a final order on public disclosure.

The FBI, DEA and DOJ have previously requested additional time to compile and review records. President Tinubu’s U.S. counsel has not publicly commented on this latest alleged order.

By Our Correspondent

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has ordered the immediate removal of roughly 30 structures blocking a major road project in Abuja.

The directive came on Thursday during a site visit to check on ongoing road works across the Federal Capital Territory. Wike was inspecting progress along Ring Road 3, the corridor connecting Karsana District, Gwarinpa District, and the Kubwa area.

The alarm was raised earlier by the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Engr. Richard Dauda. In his briefing, Dauda told the Minister that unauthorized buildings had been erected directly on the land earmarked for the project.

Giving an update on construction, Dauda said work on the second bridge on the route was moving ahead despite the rocky ground.

“Here is rocky; there’s no piling, so they’ve already started the foundation. It won’t delay, so bridge works will continue.
This is Karsana District now, with all the estates.
To this side is Kubwa Roadthe Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX)—and this is now the corridor of Ring Road 3 up to Airport Road.
It’s where the flyover here will terminate, and then Ring Road 3, when it comes, will continue this way.”

According to Dauda, the affected properties sit on the master plan alignment reserved for the Ring Road 3 infrastructure corridor.

Clearly angered by the encroachment, Wike called in officials from the Department of Development Control and demanded instant action.
“We’ll have to demolish this right now demolish the building down.

How can it be like this? It’s even a road, it’s not even a layout it’s an interchange, the leg,” the Minister said.

Wike stressed that the FCT administration will not tolerate any private building or unauthorized development standing in the way of key public projects or altering the Abuja Master Plan.

By Anayo Akwiti, Abuja

The media aide to former Nigeria Coach Bonfrere Jo, Eze Okechukwu has accused the federal government of allegedly being complicit in the maltreatment of the duo of former senior national team coaches; Clemence Westerhof and Bonfrere Johannes.

Both expatriate coaches jointly built a formidable national team for Nigeria that won the African Nations Cup in Tunisia in 1994, qualified Nigeria to its first ever World Cup in USA same year with the football governing body, FIFA ranking the team 5th in her global rating afterwards. Bonfrere would go on to win the Olympics gold medal for the Dream Team in Atlanta, USA two years later where he defeated powerhouses Brazil, Mexico and Argentina in dramatic fashion.

Speaking against the backdrop of Nigeria’s recent poor global outings in football, Eze told our correspondent yesterday in Abuja that where truth is not appreciated, where past heroes are subjected to maltreatments and undue recognition, no meaningful progress should be expected, faulting federal government over its inability to build on the records of both Dutch nationals.

” The administration of former military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida through the Vice President, Augustus Aikhomu brought Westerhof to Nigeria in 1989. In turn, Westerhof brought Bonfrere as a technical assistant. A year in the job, in Algiers 90 Afcon, they won Silver, followed it up with a Bronze in Senegal 92, before ultimately winning the trophy in 1994. Please notice the steady questions on the ultimate price before they won it? That’s the pattern of a crew that know their onions.

” They qualified Nigeria to its first ever World Cup in USA in 1994, playing with flair and technical discipline. The Super Eagles was rated fifth best team in the world afterwards, before Westerhof left the stage for Bonfrere Jo who went on to win the Olympics gold medal for the Dream Team in Atlanta, Georgia, USA two years later.

” With their unbroken 30 years record, would you believe that the same federal government that claims to be worried over the dwindling fortunes of our football rewarded Westerhof and Bonfrere with a house each in Gwagwalada area of the federal capital territory. What happened to houses in the high brow areas of Abuja? What will it take the government to give them houses in Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse 11 or Guzape? Is the President, Vice President, Sports Minister, NFF President living in Gwagwalada? It shows you how the government rewards people that have exceedingly done well for Nigeria.

” Bad as the federal government’s effort is, her own is better than that of Lagos state government who gave a plot of land each to the Dream Team contingent in Lekki Phase 3, Lagos in the euphoria of the Atlanta 96 victory only for every team member to receive his except Coach Bonfrere Jo. For 30 years, he’s been begging Lagos state government to honour their promise, but no way. Bonfrere’s lawyer petitioned the Senate since November 6th,2025 but close to a year afterwards, the Senate hasn’t deemed it fit to look at his petition. Do you think the Presidency is not aware of Bonfrere’s dilemma? Why should the government of Tinubu call out Lagos state government over the issue, when he was a former governor of the state? Someone certainly stole the property. And the person must be fat within the Lagos government corridors, else he would have been exposed. So,the federal government is unarguably complicit in the matter.

“And I am really ashamed that the same Senate President who can’t attend to such a petition for almost a year will turn around to call the national sports commission and Nigeria football federation, through the Senate Committee on Sports chaired by Senator Abdul Ningi to ask why is Nigeria football fortunes declining? Why should it not decline? How well have they treated those that sacrificed everything for the country before now? By giving them houses in Gwagwalada, right? By watching Lagos state maltreat Bonfrere, subject him to such a harrowing experience for 30 years? What remarkable efforts did the Senate, FG do in honour of late legends; Christian Chukwu, Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini and Coach Onigbinde? What have they done to Femi Opabumi, the youngest Nigeria player to feature in the France 98 World Cup after becoming blind later on? Today ,the lad, at such young age begs for alms at the Adamasingba stadium in Ibadan? Why should a country that treat her heroes that way progress?

“Didn’t you hear how much money, energy they dissipated in the recent Osun elections? Can they half such energy into our sports, the support base of our youths? Look at Tinubu? Does he have any special adviser on sports? Tell me if he has please and name the person, okay? That shows you how they value sports”, Eze said agonizingly.

Suggesting how Nigeria football could return to its glorious ways, Eze emphasized the need for the federal government to, as a matter of urgency dialogue and appease both Westerhof and Bonfrere Jo, using the forthcoming national day as platform. Reallocate their Gwagwalada houses to anywhere in Abuja main town, compel Lagos State government to release Bonfrere’s property to him after 30 years, do something meaningful for the families of late legends; Christian Chukwu, Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, Sam Okwaraji, Coach Onigbinde and Femi Opabumi before cleaning up the NFF board and bringing in former players, with the knowledge, connections and desire to succeed.

” In France 98 World Cup, Nigeria beat Spain 3-2. In 2010, Spain won the world cup. Did Nigeria qualify? In 2026, Spain won the world cup again. Did Nigeria qualify? Even the Super Falcons, the once pride of Africa women football couldn’t qualify for next year’s world Cup Brazil. what a shame”, he said.