The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have jointly asked for a 90-day extension to finalize their search for records related to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
The agencies said they plan to submit their findings by July 31, despite a prior court-ordered deadline of May 2. The request comes in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed by U.S. citizen and transparency advocate Aaron Greenspan, who is seeking documents linked to an alleged 1990s drug investigation reportedly involving President Tinubu.
On April 8, Judge Beryl Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia rejected the agencies’ attempt to use a “Glomar response,” which would have allowed them to neither confirm nor deny the existence of the documents. The judge ordered them to proceed with the search.
Greenspan has opposed the 90-day extension, suggesting the agencies be given no more than 14 additional days to comply.
In a joint status report filed by U.S. Attorney Edward Martin Jr. and Assistant Attorney M. Jared Littman, the agencies confirmed they have begun their search and estimate it will take three more months to locate and review all relevant records.
“Based on the years-long delay already caused by defendants, and the fact that many responsive documents have already been identified, plaintiff proposes that the FBI and DEA complete their searches and productions by next week, or at least that the FBI and DEA produce unredacted versions of already-identified documents by next week, and the remainder of production in 14 days,” the statement read.
“Defendants provide no rationale whatsoever as to why their search for documents should take 90 days,” Greenspan added, also noting his intention to request reimbursement of $440.22 in filing and mailing costs.
While the agencies propose submitting a joint status report by July 31, Greenspan insists the next update to the court should come by May 31.
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