Tinubu Presidency Responds to U.S. Court Order on 1993 Drug Allegations

The administration of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has addressed recent developments concerning a U.S. federal court's directive for American law enforcement agencies to release investigative records related to Tinubu's alleged involvement in drug-related activities during the 1990s. The presidency emphasized that these documents do not present any new information and reiterated that any events preceding Tinubu's presidency are not actionable under Nigerian law.​

The controversy stems from a 1993 case where Tinubu forfeited $460,000 to U.S. authorities amid investigations into alleged heroin trafficking in Chicago. However, the Nigerian Presidential Election Petition Court clarified that this forfeiture resulted from a civil proceeding targeting specific bank accounts, not a criminal conviction. The court concluded that there was no evidence indicating Tinubu's indictment, trial, or conviction for any criminal offense in the U.S. ​

Further supporting this position, a 2003 letter from the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria to the then Inspector General of Police confirmed that Tinubu had no criminal record in the United States. This correspondence was based on checks conducted through the FBI's National Crime Information Center, which found no records of arrest or conviction for Tinubu.​

Representatives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have consistently dismissed the allegations as politically motivated attempts to tarnish Tinubu's reputation. They argue that the matter was conclusively addressed decades ago and lacks relevance to his current role as president. ​

Despite the administration's stance, discussions persist regarding the implications of past legal issues on current political leadership. While the courts have ruled on the matter, public discourse continues to reflect a range of opinions on the significance of historical allegations in evaluating present-day governance.