By SCM International Desk I Tuesday, August 18, 2026
WASHINGTON — A United States federal court has issued a strict four-day deadline for the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to disclose law enforcement records relating to alleged drug-trafficking activities involving Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
US District Judge Beryl Howell turned down a request by government attorneys for a 10-day extension, granting only four additional days and fixing August 21, 2026 as the firm compliance deadline.
The decision comes in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) disclosure case that has been moving through federal court for more than three years.
The legal action targets records held by key federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro had requested the 10-day delay on behalf of the federal agencies to process and organize compliance with the court order. However, Judge Howell noted the length of time the matter had remained pending before issuing her ruling.
The developments were highlighted publicly by Dr. Von Batten-Montague-York, a political advocate closely tracking the proceedings. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Von Batten urged swift compliance and welcomed the judge’s ruling.
“We deeply appreciate US Attorney Pirro and the DOJ’s renewed motivation to release these documents, and we agree with Judge Howell. This case has been pending for three years. The time to release the Tinubu drug-trafficking files is now.”
— Dr. Von Batten-Montague-York
Von Batten added that diplomatic relations between Washington and Abuja should not interfere with transparency. “As President Trump has indicated, our shared interests with Nigeria do not mean supporting an alleged drug trafficker,” he wrote.
The lawsuit stems from decades-old law enforcement records surrounding financial settlements in the United States involving President Bola Tinubu.
