Washington DC. Republican lobbying firm Von Batten Montague York LC declared that President Donald Trump return to office means US agencies will no longer shield foreign figures accused of smuggling drugs into the United States.
In a statement on its verified X social media handle the firm said lobbying efforts are accelerating with meetings planned next week alongside anti drug organizations religious leaders and families impacted by heroin abuse and deaths linked to the Chicago trafficking network during Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu time of crimes in the US.
The firm confirmed it will engage anti drug organizations and victims of Tinubu heroin abuse in Chicago.
US federal agencies under President Joe Biden repeatedly refused or delayed Freedom of Information Act FOIA requests for records linking Tinubu to a 1990s Chicago heroin trafficking and money laundering network despite a court order. Transparency activist Aaron Greenspan filed multiple requests between 2022 and 2023 targeting the FBI DEA DOJ and other agencies. Key FOIA numbers include 1588244000 1593615000 2200892F and 2400201F. Agencies often responded with Glomar denials neither confirming nor denying records existed citing privacy and exemptions.
The requests center on a 1993 civil forfeiture case United States v Funds in Account No 263226700 et al where the government alleged Tinubu controlled bank accounts holding proceeds from a Nigeria based heroin ring operating in Chicago. The DOJ identified associates including Adegboyega Mueez Akande alleged ringleader and Abiodun Agbele. Tinubu forfeited approximately 460000 dollars in the settlement though he faced no criminal conviction.
In April 2025 US District Judge Beryl A Howell ruled the FBI and DEA blanket Glomar responses improper and neither logical nor plausible ordering them to search for and release non exempt records. The agencies later sought extensions with delays persisting into 2026. The CIA received partial protection. Lobbying firm Von Batten Montague York has shared over 60 pages of DOJ documents with the Trump administration Congress and staff. The firm plans further engagement with anti drug groups religious leaders and families affected by heroin arguing US agencies must not shield foreign leaders tied to drugs entering America.
This case revives long standing questions about transparency accountability and the protection of American communities from international drug networks. Full unredacted releases could provide greater clarity on historical investigations.
