ABUJA, Nigeria — An aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has claimed that United States President Donald Trump has been made aware of court documents relating to President Bola Tinubu’s alleged past legal records in the United States.
Paul Ibe, a spokesperson for Atiku, made the claim in a post published on his verified X account, alleging that a 60-page United States Department of Justice file concerning allegations of heroin trafficking and the forfeiture of $460,000 involving Tinubu had been brought to Trump’s attention through a U.S.-based lobbying firm.
According to Ibe, Nigerians deserve full disclosure regarding the matter, describing the alleged development as significant.
In his social media post, Ibe asserted that the documents had been presented to the U.S. president by the lobbying firm Batten Von and suggested that more information would emerge.
However, he did not provide documentary evidence to support his claim that Trump had received or reviewed the documents.
He also did not indicate whether the White House or any U.S. government agency had acknowledged receiving such information or taken any action in response.
The post did not include details of when the alleged briefing took place or the circumstances surrounding the reported submission of the documents.
President Tinubu has repeatedly addressed questions surrounding the decades-old U.S. forfeiture case, maintaining that he has committed no criminal offence.
The matter has also been the subject of legal and political debate in Nigeria, particularly during and after the 2023 presidential election, with several court proceedings examining issues relating to the president’s eligibility and past records.
To date, no official statement has been issued by the White House, the U.S. Department of Justice, President Tinubu’s office or the alleged lobbying firm confirming Ibe’s claims.
As of the time of reporting, the allegations remain unverified, and there is no public evidence that President Trump has been formally briefed on the documents referenced by the former vice president’s aide.
The latest claim is expected to generate further political debate as Nigeria’s political landscape continues to witness heightened exchanges between the ruling All Progressives Congress and opposition figures.
