Legal counsel to President Bola Tinubu don defend di Nigerian leader decision to challenge di release of some United States government records linked to long-running allegations of drug trafficking.
Tinubu lawyer, Chris Carmichael, say di President decision na to protect im legal rights under American law and e no mean say Tinubu dey admit say e do anything wrong.
Carmichael tell BBC News Pidgin say Tinubu acted on di advice of im lawyers for di ongoing case in America, where dem dey challenge efforts by di US Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to release records allegedly connected to past investigations.
“Like evri oda pesin wey dey participate for di American legal system, President Tinubu get right to exercise im rights or waive dem,” Carmichael tok.
E add: “If a litigant choose to waive or forego im rights, dem don lost forever.”
Di lawyer comments come at a time when public interest don rise again over documents wey individuals and groups dey seek from US government agencies in connection with allegations wey don follow Tinubu for many years.
Tinubu don consistently deny involvement in drug trafficking. E also maintain say no court for America don ever convict am for any criminal offence.
According to Carmichael, na di President legal team advise am to challenge di release of di records so that e fit preserve im rights under US law.
“Upon di advice of counsel, dem suggest to di President say make e exercise im rights in order to be treated like any oda participant for court. Di President accept our advice,” e tok.
Wetin di US Court Case Be About
Di legal dispute centre on whether US agencies, including di DOJ, FBI and DEA, should release records connected to previous investigations and legal proceedings involving Tinubu.
Di matter don become part of political arguments for both Nigeria and America.
Supporters of Tinubu argue say di demand for di records fit get political motivation, while critics say releasing di documents would promote transparency and allow di public to understand di history behind di allegations.
Carmichael say, however, na di court get di final say on di matter.
“As always, di Judge go decide di outcome of di case,” e tok.
“As im lawyers, we dey optimistic say di court go treat di president fairly and dis mata go conclude within a reasonable period,” e add.
FOIA Lawsuit Over Tinubu Records
Recently, American transparency activist Aaron Greenspan file Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against several US government agencies in an attempt to gain access to documents relating to investigations involving Tinubu.
Greenspan request reportedly include di FBI complete file on Tinubu, as well as FBI Form 302 interview records covering di period between 1992 and 1993.
Di lawsuit also concern records linked to a 1993 civil forfeiture proceeding in di US involving about $460,000 associated with Tinubu.
But Tinubu legal team, led by Carmichael, argue before di court say releasing some of di records could violate di President privacy rights, according to a 16-page court document seen by journalists.
For di 1993 civil forfeiture case, Tinubu lawyers argue say di documents submitted during di proceeding no establish details of any possible criminal investigation involving Tinubu or show di outcome of such an investigation.
Di lawyers also argue say di plaintiff has not identified any existing public record containing details of a government criminal investigation or findings against Tinubu.
“Regardless of di prior disclosure for di forfeiture proceeding, Intervenor retains a privacy interest in potential disclosure of di investigative files wey di Plaintiff dey seek,” di document read in part.
Firm Claims More Tinubu Records Exist
Meanwhile, United States-based policy advisory and lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York claim say Tinubu dey make efforts to prevent release of records allegedly connected to drug trafficking investigations.
For a post on its verified X account on Saturday, di firm say Tinubu ask di court to stop US government agencies from releasing di records.
According to di firm, Tinubu lawyers rely on his right to privacy in opposing di disclosure.
On Sunday, Von Batten-Montague-York also claim say di FBI and DEA submit fresh filings to di court concerning records allegedly linked to a heroin-trafficking investigation involving Tinubu.
“Wetin dey shocking na say we learn say FBI Tinubu-responsive search produce 399 pages of documents wey relate to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu,” di firm tok.
E claim say di records include materials relating to heroin-residue laboratory testing, controlled drug purchases involving a cooperating witness, confidential informants, federal grand-jury activities, prosecutorial reports and meetings, surveillance, undercover operations, financial seizures, bank-account seizure warrants, IRS criminal investigation materials and international investigative coordination.
The claims remain part of an ongoing legal dispute, with di court expected to determine whether some of di requested records should be released.
