Tinubu May Face Criminal Charges After Leaving Office Over Drug Allegations, US Firm Claims
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu could face criminal charges after leaving office over allegations linked to a decades-old heroin trafficking case, according to a United States-based policy advisory and lobbying firm.
Von Batten-Montague-York raised the possibility in a post published on its verified X account on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
However, the firm acknowledged that the documents it reviewed do not directly establish that the United States government is preparing to prosecute Tinubu.
Instead, it pointed to responses from the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), saying they have left unanswered questions about whether an investigation or enforcement proceeding connected to the case could still be active.
FBI, DEA Decline to Confirm Whether Case Remains Open
According to the firm, the FBI and DEA were separately asked to confirm that no investigation remained pending and that no enforcement proceeding was ongoing more than three decades after the alleged offences referenced in the underlying cases.
The agencies reportedly declined to make such a confirmation.
Instead, both maintained that they were “not obligated to comment on whether a law enforcement investigation or proceeding may exist.”
The firm described the agencies’ position as significant, particularly because of the age of the cases and the questions surrounding whether any investigation connected to them could still exist.
Firm Links Possible Charges to End of Presidential Immunity
After reviewing some of the case filings, the firm said it believes Tinubu could potentially face criminal charges after leaving office, when he would no longer have immunity ratione personae.
It linked the possibility to allegations concerning heroin trafficking contained in the underlying cases.
The firm also noted that some people connected to the original investigation are now dead, while filings from the FBI and DEA reportedly make references to wiretaps.
It argued that the agencies’ refusal to state that no investigation or enforcement proceeding exists is therefore noteworthy.
No Confirmation That Tinubu Will Be Charged
Despite its claim, the firm stressed that the FBI and DEA responses do not establish that charges against Tinubu are imminent.
It said their refusal to confirm the absence of an investigation should not be interpreted as proof that criminal charges are being prepared.
The firm nevertheless questioned why the agencies would not simply state that there is no current investigation or enforcement proceeding relating to the cases or involving Tinubu.
“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,” the firm said.
It added that the responses from the FBI and DEA raise questions about what may still be under consideration by US law enforcement.
The claims remain an allegation, and the material reviewed by the firm does not establish that the US government has decided to prosecute Tinubu.
