Special Counsel to Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Aloy Ejimakor, on Tuesday said President Bola Tinubu\u2019s records relating to alleged drug trafficking in the United States, US, would be disclosed, but some important aspects would be redacted.<\/p>\n
Ejimakor explained that only details with little or no political value would be made public.<\/p>\n
He made the remark in response to a US federal court permitting an ex parte review of sensitive records regarding Tinubu in an ongoing Freedom of Information Act, FOIA, lawsuit.<\/p>\n
However, Ejimakor said the FBI\u2019s request for an ex parte review underscores the additional issue that public justification itself could compromise these protected interests.<\/p>\n
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In a statement he issued, titled: \u201cAnalysing FBI\u2019s stonewall on President Tinubu\u2019s US records,\u201d Ejimakor said: \u201cBy a recent application filed at the U.S. District Court, the FBI asked the Court for leave to explain, under seal, why releasing certain records regarding President Tinubu could endanger the physical safety of individuals and expose sensitive law enforcement methods.<\/p>\n
\u201cBelow is a summary of the possible reasons, and justifications, for the FBI\u2019s endangerment claim.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder US FOIA Exemption 7(F), 5 U.S.C. \u00a7 552(b)(7)(F), agencies like the FBI may withhold law enforcement records if disclosure \u2018could reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of any individual.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cCourts require only a reasonable expectation of harm, not certainty. See Pub. Emps. for Envtl. Responsibility v. U.S. Section, Int\u2019l Boundary & Water Comm\u2019n, 740 F.3d 195, 206 (D.C. Cir. 2014).\u201d<\/p>\n
Ejimakor said the factual reasons the FBI might adduce to justify its endangerment claim include revealing the identities or details of confidential informants, cooperating witnesses or third parties linked to the 1990s drug-trafficking probe and exposing them or their relatives to retaliation from remaining network members.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cIdentifying law-enforcement personnel whose names appear in the files poses risk of harassment or physical targeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cDisclosing operational details that, even decades later, could enable retaliation against sources still living or associated with the investigation.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be sure, US federal courts routinely uphold such withholdings to protect informants and agents. See, e.g., Hammouda v. OIP, 920 F. Supp. 2d 16, 26 (D.D.C. 2013); Rugiero v. DOJ, 257 F.3d 534, 552 (6th Cir. 2001).<\/p>\n
\u201cIn particular, the FBI\u2019s request for ex parte review underscores the additional issue that public justification itself could compromise these protected interests.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy prediction: In the end, Tinubu\u2019s records will be disclosed, but significant portions will be redacted, hidden from view, leaving only details that will be of little or no political value.\u201d<\/p>\n
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