The debate around alleged President Bola Tinubu’s drug trafficking case in the US is not ending soon. Everyday there is something – a different aspect or a new trend to it.
This morning a US-based policy advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, said the president is most likely to face criminal charges after leaving office. In a post on its verified X handle, the firm revealed that the filings it has reviewed so far clearly show that relevant US agencies have refused to dismiss the allegations against Tinubu.
On two separate occasions when the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) were interviewed on the matter, they’ve both refused to explicitly said they had discontinued the case, which raise serious questions regarding their future intentions.
“Based on our reading of some of the case filings, we believe President Tinubu may face criminal charges after he leaves office, when he no longer has immunity ratione personae, in connection with the heroin-trafficking allegations.
“From the records, we know that some individuals associated with the underlying investigation are dead and that the FBI and DEA filings reference wiretaps.
“The FBI and DEA’s refusal to confirm that no investigation or enforcement proceeding exists is noteworthy,” the firm said, added that the agencies’ refusal be clear should be even more troubling to the Nigerian president.
The firm also hinted at US President Donald Trump’s trademark negotiation style of keeping his opponent guessing. Going by that, it could be that Trump administration intends to retain that as a big leverage to hold President Tinubu where it wanted.
As Nigerians warm up to go to the polls in 2027, it’s obvious the opposition voices would not let President Tinubu alone over this matter. It was exactly the kind of problem he got last time. But even the president knows the outcomes of the coming presidential election would say a lot about the outcomes of the possible prosecution. While the opposition may want to jubilate over the president’s ordeal, the thought of being dragged in American soil might make Tinubu more desperate to win the 2027 election.