Former presidential aide Reno Omokri has defended President Bola Tinubu’s position on the release of his records held by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Omokri argued that an FBI file containing Tinubu’s name does not automatically mean the President has a criminal record.
He made the comments while reacting to efforts to obtain unredacted records held by the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Omokri explains FBI records
According to Omokri, the FBI keeps records on people for several reasons. He said those reasons may have nothing to do with criminal activity.
The former presidential aide explained that such records can come from visa applications and background checks.
He also said US authorities conduct background checks on visa applicants. These checks may produce files containing personal information.
“This is because the FBI conducts MANDATORY background screenings on behalf of the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security on US visa applicants,” he said.
Omokri added that FBI files may contain biometric, biographical and financial information. He therefore questioned whether people would want such private records released to political opponents.
“Would you, as an individual, want your private records released to your political opponents, even if they were non-criminal?” he asked.
Omokri refers to 2003 US Embassy letter
Omokri also referred to correspondence between the US Embassy and former Inspector-General of Police Tafa Balogun.
He said Balogun contacted the embassy in February 2003. According to Omokri, he asked whether the FBI held criminal records involving Tinubu.
Tinubu was serving as Lagos State governor at the time. Omokri claimed that the embassy responded the following day.
He said the response cleared Tinubu of any criminal record.
Omokri also referred to his own visit to Chicago in 2022. He said he travelled there while supporting the opposition to investigate claims about Tinubu’s records.
“This was consistent with my findings when I visited Chicago in 2022, as a member of the opposition, to establish the truth about then-Presidential candidate Bola Tinubu’s academic and other records,” he said.
He further challenged anyone who doubts the document to seek clarification from the US Embassy.
Tinubu challenges release of FBI records
The comments come amid a legal dispute in the United States over access to Tinubu’s records.
Tinubu’s lawyers have asked a US court to reject demands for his unredacted FBI and DEA records. They argued that US privacy laws protect the documents from disclosure.
His legal team also described the request as politically motivated.
The case followed a Freedom of Information Act request by American transparency activist Aaron Greenspan. He is seeking records relating to Tinubu from the US agencies.
The FBI has relied on several exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act. These exemptions cover issues such as personal privacy, confidential sources and investigative methods.
Controversy over Tinubu’s US records
The debate over Tinubu’s US records has continued for years. It also became a major political issue during the 2023 presidential election.
In 1993, a US court in Illinois ordered the forfeiture of $460,000 linked to an account associated with Tinubu.
US authorities had alleged that the money represented proceeds from narcotics trafficking or involved prohibited financial transactions.
However, the All Progressives Congress argued during the 2023 election litigation that the case involved civil forfeiture. The party maintained that it did not amount to a criminal conviction.
In September 2023, the Presidential Election Petition Court also addressed the issue. The court held that the petitioners had failed to establish that Tinubu had faced criminal proceedings in the US.
Meanwhile, opposition groups have continued to demand the release of the records. They argue that Nigerians deserve access to information about the President’s past.
Omokri, however, maintained that Nigerians should distinguish between an FBI file and a criminal record.
“President Bola Tinubu has no criminal record in the United States, Nigeria, or anywhere else,” he said.
The debate is expected to continue as the US court considers the dispute over access to Tinubu’s records.
