US agency tells court that publicly disclosing the full basis for withholding certain records could expose sensitive law-enforcement methods and potentially endanger individuals.

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has asked a federal court to allow it to privately explain why it is withholding some records relating to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the disclosure of its full reasoning could potentially put individuals at risk.

The FBI made the request in a court filing dated August 20, 2026, before the US District Court for the District of Columbia, as part of an ongoing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case involving requests for records concerning Tinubu dating back to the early 1990s.

The agency is asking the court for permission to submit an ex parte, in camera declaration—a confidential explanation that would be presented directly to the judge and kept under seal.

According to the FBI, publicly outlining the complete basis for withholding some of the records could reveal sensitive law-enforcement techniques and procedures or information that could threaten the safety of individuals.

“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 in its filing.

The FBI said it would submit the confidential declaration by August 28 if the court grants its request.

Records sought over 1990s investigations

The records are being sought by Aaron Greenspan, founder of PlainSite, who filed FOIA requests with several US federal agencies for documents relating to Tinubu from 1992 and 1993.

Among the materials requested are Tinubu’s FBI file and interview records connected to an FBI investigation.

The FBI has cited several exemptions under the US FOIA in withholding portions of the requested material. These include exemptions relating to personal privacy, confidential sources, law-enforcement techniques and information whose disclosure could endanger an individual's life or physical safety.

The latest filing does not, by itself, establish what is contained in the withheld records or confirm any allegations concerning Tinubu. Rather, the FBI is asking the court to allow it to explain privately why certain information cannot be released publicly.

Long-running legal battle

The dispute is part of a prolonged legal battle over requests for US government records concerning Tinubu and matters linked to a Chicago drug investigation from the early 1990s.

Greenspan filed multiple FOIA requests with six federal agencies, seeking documents connected to Tinubu.

At an earlier stage of the case, the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other agencies relied on what is commonly known as a “Glomar response”—a position in which an agency neither confirms nor denies whether responsive records exist.

However, in April 2025, US District Judge Beryl Howell ruled that the FBI and DEA had not sufficiently justified their refusal to confirm or deny the existence of records concerning Tinubu.

The court ordered the agencies to lift their Glomar responses and address the records requests in accordance with the court's directives.

The latest application from the FBI is therefore another development in the continuing legal proceedings over the release of the documents.

The US Department of Justice is also continuing to respond to court orders relating to the records.

Tinubu's legal team had previously sought additional time to respond to developments in the case, but Judge Howell reportedly declined a request for a 10-day extension.

The FBI's latest request will now require the court to determine whether the agency can provide its fuller justification for the disputed exemptions privately and under seal.