🚨 WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THE TINUBU FBI FILES & WHAT WE MUST DO 🚨
A critical milestone has just been reached in the U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case regarding historical law enforcement records concerning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Greenspan v. EOUSA, Case No. 1:23-cv-01816).
The FBI has submitted sensitive investigative files to U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell under seal and in camera (privately).
Meanwhile, President Tinubu’s legal team filed motions asking the court to block public release, citing individual privacy rights under FOIA Exemption 7(C).
230 million Nigerians deserve complete, unredacted transparency—not secret reviews behind closed doors.
DO NOT CALL THE JUDGE’S CHAMBERS
Many people want to call U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell’s office to demand the release of these records. Calling chambers will not work:
Judges Do Not Take Public Votes: U.S. federal judges hold lifetime appointments. They do not have constituents or voters, and they do not tally phone calls or public opinions to make legal rulings.
Ethics Rules Block Private Messages: Under U.S. federal court rules, staff are legally prohibited from passing off-the-record phone calls or emails to a judge (ex parte communication limits).
Phone Lines Will Be Blocked: If thousands call, court staff will disconnect the line or set it to an unmonitored voicemail. It will not reach the judge or impact the case.
WHAT WE MUST DO INSTEAD: PUT PRESSURE ON THE MEDIA
Federal judges do not check phone logs, but they do evaluate public interest standards, and global newsrooms monitor public demand.
Under U.S. FOIA law, privacy claims can be overridden if there is a compelling, documented public interest in disclosure. We show that public interest by making international media cover this court battle.
Over the next 24 to 48 hours, email newsrooms and legal reporters. Force mainstream outlets to pay attention to this judicial review and report on the global demand for transparency.
COPY & PASTE EMAIL TO SEND TO NEWSROOMS
Subject: MEDIA TIP: Public Interest in U.S. Court FOIA Suit Over Nigerian President's FBI Dossier (Case No. 1:23-cv-01816)
To the Newsroom / Foreign Desk / Legal Desk,
I am writing to alert your desk to an ongoing Freedom of Information Act lawsuit before Senior Judge Beryl A. Howell in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Greenspan v. EOUSA, Case No. 1:23-cv-01816).
The FBI has submitted sensitive 1990s investigative records concerning Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the court under seal and in camera. Simultaneously, legal interventions have been filed to block their public release under FOIA Exemption 7(C) privacy protections.
Over 230 million citizens have a fundamental right to unredacted transparency regarding the documented history of their Head of State. We urge your outlet to report on this ongoing proceeding, investigate the public interest standard for unsealing, and bring global media scrutiny to this critical FOIA review.
Case Reference: Greenspan v. Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys et al. (Case No. 1:23-cv-01816, D.D.C.)
Your name,
MEDIA CONTACT DIRECTORY
Send the email above to these newsrooms and investigative tip lines:
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP FOIA Desk): hotline@rcfp.org
Politico Newsroom Tips: tips@politico.com
ProPublica Investigative Desk: topics@propublica.org
The Washington Post (Foreign Desk): foreign@washpost.com
The New York Times (News Desk): news-tips@nytimes.com
BBC News / Africa Desk: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
Al Jazeera English Investigations: investigations@aljazeera.net
CC though they are aware and already covering it:
Peoples Gazette Investigative Desk: whistle@peoplesgazette.com
Premium Times Newsroom: newsroom@premiumtimesng.com
Sahara Reporters Editorial: editor@saharareporters.com
Pass this along. Do not waste energy calling the court—put the spotlight on the media! 🇳🇬