A recent order by a U.S. District Court to release an investigative report related to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sparked renewed media attention. However, according to Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Babatunde Ogala, the report is nothing new and has been in the public domain for years. The court's decision was prompted by a Freedom of Information (FoI) request from American Aaron Greenspan, who sought documents about alleged federal investigations into President Tinubu and Abiodun Agbele.
Ogala, familiar with the U.S. case, downplayed the significance of the report, stating, "This is a matter that has long been concluded. It’s just a sensational issue in the media for now." He noted that Greenspan's application dates back to 2003, involving the FBI, CIA, and DEA. The case involved a $460,000 forfeiture order against assets, not against President Tinubu personally. This matter was resolved in Chicago, with Tinubu found not liable for any offense.
The report was previously used in the 2023 election petitions, where the Court of Appeal ruled that it did not constitute a conviction. Ogala emphasized that if President Tinubu had been indicted, he would not have been allowed to enter the U.S. freely. He attributed the renewed attention to political opponents trying to discredit the President by reviving old stories.
In essence, while the report's release may seem like new news, it is an old story that has been settled for years. The real question is whether this will have any impact on President Tinubu's political standing or if it remains a non-issue.
