Tinubu to US court: Nigerians’ interest in his past doesn’t justify release of FBI, DEA records

President Bola Tinubu has asked a United States federal court to reject an attempt to compel the release of unredacted FBI and DEA records concerning him, arguing that public interest in his background does not override his privacy rights.

According to SaharaReporters, Tinubu’s lawyers made the argument in an amended filing before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in Aaron Greenspan’s Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.

“Plaintiff’s interest in an individual or that individual’s activities is not a ‘public interest’ that FOIA recognizes,” the lawyers argued.

Greenspan is seeking records concerning Tinubu from U.S. agencies, arguing that the Nigerian President’s background is a matter of public interest.

Tinubu’s lawyers countered that FOIA primarily exists to expose government activity, rather than personal information contained in government files.

“An individual retains a privacy interest in the details that remain undisclosed,” they said.

They urged the court to preserve FBI and DEA redactions and reject Greenspan’s summary judgment request. Tinubu has denied wrongdoing.