BOMBSHELL! FBI swears Tinubu was criminally investigated over heroin trafficking — US Firm
*‘Court already acknowledged investigation’ — FBI declaration reportedly cited by Von Batten-Montague-York
*’Claim that Tinubu was never investigated us false’
By OUR REPORTER
“Let that sink in,” the firm declared, arguing that the sworn court filing establishes that Tinubu was criminally investigated in connection with heroin trafficking.
A fresh storm has erupted over the long-running controversy surrounding US law-enforcement records on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following claims by US lobbying firm Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C. that an FBI sworn declaration filed in federal court confirms that the Nigerian president was criminally investigated in connection with alleged heroin trafficking.
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The firm, in a bombshell post on X, said it had received a “huge amount of records” and was carefully reviewing and redacting them before publication.
According to Von Batten-Montague-York, “We received a huge amount of records, which we are carefully going through and redacting where we see fit. Posted below are portions of the @FBI’s own sworn declaration submitted to the court on August 28, 2026.”
It specifically pointed to portions of an FBI declaration submitted to a US federal court on August 28, 2026, claiming the document directly contradicts assertions that Tinubu was never the subject of a criminal investigation.
According to the firm, the FBI stated under oath that the court had already determined that a criminal investigation involving Tinubu had been officially acknowledged.
“Let that sink in,” the firm declared, arguing that the sworn court filing establishes that Tinubu was criminally investigated in connection with heroin trafficking.
The firm further highlighted what it described as a critical passage from the FBI declaration, in which the bureau said, “The responsive records herein were compiled in furtherance of the FBI’s investigation of multiple individuals for drug trafficking crimes.”
Von Batten-Montague-York said the FBI’s reference to law-enforcement exemptions was significant, arguing that the exemptions demonstrate that the records were generated in the course of a drug-trafficking investigation.
The U.S. firm said it released portions of the FBI filing specifically to challenge claims made a day earlier that Tinubu had never been criminally investigated and that the US authorities were merely protecting his privacy by withholding the records.
“We are posting this document to counter the claim made yesterday that President Tinubu was never criminally investigated and is simply following the law to protect his privacy,” the firm said.
“That claim is false, as shown by the FBI’s sworn declaration below.”
The development is likely to intensify scrutiny of the decades-old allegations surrounding Tinubu and the US records being sought through litigation.
The dispute has generated significant political interest in Nigeria, particularly over what the FBI records contain, why some documents have remained withheld and what the U.S. court ultimately determines regarding their disclosure.
However, the latest claims by Von Batten-Montague-York remain the firm’s interpretation of portions of the FBI filing. The full declaration, underlying records and the court’s legal findings are necessary to independently establish the precise nature and scope of any investigation involving Tinubu.
The latest development nevertheless places the FBI’s sworn court declaration at the centre of the controversy — and could trigger another major round of political and legal debate over the Tinubu records.
See redacted copies of the sworn affidavit of FBI below:
