NEWS
U.S. Firm, Von Batten-Montague Claims Sensitive Tinubu-Related Records May Be Submitted Privately to Judge as DOJ Seeks Deadline Extension
A fresh development has emerged in the ongoing legal battle over the release of United States government records relating to long-standing drug-trafficking allegations involving Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, following a new court request by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
U.S.-based firm Von Batten-Montague disclosed in a post on X that the U.S. government has requested additional time to complete its work and prepare an explanation for Judge Beryl Howell, with some of the information reportedly considered too sensitive for public disclosure.
According to the firm, Pirro’s office filed an emergency request seeking to move the deadline from August 21 to August 28.
The development, the firm said, represents a significant shift from what it described as the pace of the case under the previous administration of President Joe Biden.
The post stated:
“Breaking News: Things are moving much faster than under the @TheJusticeDept (DOJ) under President @JoeBiden. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro (@USAttyPirro) again asked Judge Beryl Howell yesterday for more time. This is not simply an effort to stonewall. The government says it is dealing with very sensitive information.“
Von Batten-Montague went further to offer its own interpretation of the development, stressing that its conclusion was an opinion rather than an established finding by the court or the U.S. government.
The firm said:
“In our opinion, we believe this may mean that President Tinubu was caught and made a deal with the U.S. government, which would explain why funds were seized from his accounts but he was not criminally prosecuted.“
According to the post, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are still conducting internal work to prepare the government’s explanation to Judge Howell.
The firm said some of the information the agencies intend to present requires an “ex parte in camera review,” a legal procedure in which a judge privately reviews sensitive materials outside public view.
“Per U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s new emergency request, the @FBI, @DEAHQ, and U.S. Attorney’s Office are still working internally to prepare their explanation for Judge Howell, and some of what they want to tell the judge is so sensitive that they are asking to share it with her privately,“ the firm stated.
It added:
“The government says two declarations require what is called “ex parte in camera review. This means they want Judge Howell to review them privately.“
The request for a private judicial review has heightened interest in the documents and the information contained in the files, particularly as the legal battle over their disclosure has continued for more than three years.
Von Batten-Montague described the latest court filing as a major development in efforts to obtain records held by the Department of Justice, FBI and DEA concerning the allegations involving President Tinubu.
“This is a major development in the fight to uncover the DOJ, FBI, and DEA records concerning drug-trafficking allegations involving Nigerian President Bola #Tinubu (@officialABAT). After more than three years, the American and Nigerian people deserve to know what is in these files.“
The firm also expressed appreciation for the work of U.S. Attorney Pirro, the FBI, DEA and the Department of Justice under President Donald Trump.
However, it maintained that regardless of whether any agreement or arrangement existed between Tinubu and the U.S. government, the documents should ultimately be released in the interest of transparency.
“In our opinion, what we will continue to tell the @realDonaldTrump Administration and Congress is this: deal or no deal, for the integrity of the United States and President Trump, especially after Venezuela, release the documents.“
The firm further argued that continued secrecy surrounding the matter could create political and public confidence concerns for the Trump administration and the Republican Party.
“The United States and the #Republican Party do not need another Epstein scandal.“
The latest request now places renewed attention on Judge Howell’s court, as the U.S. government seeks an additional week to complete its work and potentially submit highly sensitive declarations for private review.
However, it is important to note that Von Batten-Montague’s suggestion that President Tinubu may have been “caught” and made a deal with the U.S. government remains the firm’s opinion and has not, in the text provided, been established as a finding of fact by Judge Howell or
officially confirmed by the U.S. government.