{VIDEO} US Firm Turns Wale Tinubu’s ‘I Did That Case in Chicago’ Remark Into Evidence Against Tinubu
By OUR REPORTER
The firm also alleged that the video demonstrated what it described as “the falsification of established facts to deceive the Nigerian public.”
A United States-based firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, has said it is seeking to introduce a video transcript featuring Adewale “Wale” Tinubu as an evidentiary exhibit in the ongoing legal battle over the release of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) records relating to President Bola Tinubu.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH WALE TINUBU’S VIDEO
The firm said the proposed evidence could challenge President Tinubu’s reliance on privacy protections to oppose the disclosure of records concerning allegations surrounding his past.
In a statement published alongside the video, Von Batten-Montague-York said it was “amending our Supplemental Notice of Evidentiary Exhibits to the U.S. courts to include the attached video transcript.”
“Based on our review, we believe this evidence challenges Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s attempt to invoke privacy protections over the FBI and DEA records concerning his alleged drug-trafficking past,” the firm said.
Wale Tinubu’s Chicago remark
The organisation said the video was recorded at an All Progressives Congress (APC) political event at which Wale Tinubu, whom it described as President Tinubu’s reported nephew, discussed the Chicago case involving the Nigerian president.
According to the firm, Wale Tinubu said during the event: “I did that case in Chicago. It was one of my first legal matters.”
Von Batten-Montague-York said he also described personally urging President Tinubu to settle the matter.
The firm, however, questioned the account, saying official court records identify Patrick S. Coffey, Esq. as the attorney representing Bola Tinubu in the proceeding.
“No court appearance, pleading, signature, or other filing identifies Mr. Adewale Tinubu as counsel in the proceeding. Not a single record,” the organisation alleged.
It said the discrepancy was central to its decision to place the video transcript before the court.
Privacy argument
Von Batten-Montague-York argued that the public discussion of the Chicago proceeding could have implications for President Tinubu’s reliance on privacy protections in the records case.
“President Tinubu cannot have it both ways,” the organisation said, arguing that the president is seeking to keep records concerning the case from public disclosure while a relative allegedly discussed the proceeding publicly at a political event.
The firm further cited the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, particularly Exemption 7(C), which concerns privacy protections for information contained in law-enforcement records.
According to the organisation, voluntary public disclosure may, in appropriate circumstances, diminish the privacy interest protected under the exemption.
The firm also alleged that the video demonstrated what it described as “the falsification of established facts to deceive the Nigerian public.”
Call for release of FBI, DEA records
Von Batten-Montague-York called on the FBI and DEA to reconsider their position regarding the records, asserting that the documents should ultimately be made available to the public.
“The FBI and DEA must come to the realization that President Tinubu is a liability,” the organisation said.
It further compared the records to what it called “just another Epstein file” and predicted that they would eventually be released regardless of which political party controls the White House.
“Whether under the current Republican administration or a future Democrat administration, those files will eventually be released to the public,” it said.
