Olusola Sani, Strategic Media Associate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu not to obstruct the release of public documents relating to a decades-old U.S. civil forfeiture case, arguing that Nigerians deserve full disclosure on the matter.
Sani made the remarks during an interview with Channels Television while defending the Atiku camp’s decision to revisit the 1993 U.S. civil forfeiture proceedings involving President Tinubu. His comments come amid renewed political debate over the significance of the case and the public release of related records.
During the interview, Sani was asked why the Atiku camp had continued to raise the issue, particularly following renewed circulation of a U.S. Department of Justice document linked to the forfeiture proceedings and with political activities gathering momentum ahead of future elections.
The interviewer also referenced the Presidency’s position that the renewed attention to the case amounts to a smear campaign aimed at damaging President Tinubu’s reputation.
Responding, Sani rejected that characterization, insisting that the issue is based on public records that have existed since 1993 and should not be dismissed as a political attack.
According to him, the matter concerns the public interest because it involves the country’s president and raises questions that, in his view, deserve greater transparency.
Sani argued that requesting access to documents relating to the case is reasonable and does not amount to political persecution.
He maintained that Nigerians have a right to know the full details of the allegations and the circumstances surrounding the conclusion of the forfeiture proceedings.
When reminded during the interview that the forfeiture matter had been concluded years ago and that there is currently no criminal case against President Tinubu, Sani disputed the suggestion that the issue had been completely settled.
He argued that the controversy remains relevant because, in his opinion, it was never fully resolved in the public domain.
Sani further contended that the nature of civil forfeiture proceedings raises questions that continue to warrant public scrutiny.
According to him, the renewed attention to the issue is also linked to ongoing legal proceedings in the United States involving efforts to obtain the public release of documents connected to the forfeiture case.
“It is being brought up because, as you speak, there are cases in the American court with the FBI and the DEA that bother about a public release of the document that went into that forfeiture,” Sani said.
He argued that the existence of those proceedings makes the issue relevant and reinforces the need for transparency regarding the historical records.
According to Sani, what Nigerians are seeking is not speculation but access to official documents that could provide greater clarity on the matter.
“That is all the country needs to know. We want full disclosure. If it was indeed closed, then let us see it. Don’t block any attempt at presenting public documents that back up the case,” he added.
Sani maintained that if the matter was fully resolved as the Presidency has argued, then there should be no objection to the release of documents explaining how the proceedings were concluded.
His remarks reflect the Atiku camp’s continued position that greater transparency would help address lingering public questions surrounding the case.
The comments come against the backdrop of an ongoing exchange between the Presidency and associates of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over the relevance of the 1993 U.S. civil forfeiture proceedings.
The Presidency has consistently maintained that the matter was resolved more than three decades ago, did not result in a criminal conviction or finding of guilt against President Tinubu, and should not be revived for political purposes.
Sani, however, argued that the focus should be on ensuring public access to official records rather than attempting to discourage discussion of the issue.
He said the public release of relevant documents would allow Nigerians to examine the facts for themselves and make informed judgments based on the available records.
The interview forms part of the broader political debate surrounding the historical U.S. civil forfeiture case as political actors continue to exchange views on its significance.
While the Presidency maintains that the matter has long been settled, Sani insists that ongoing efforts in U.S. courts to obtain additional records underscore the importance of transparency and public disclosure.
His remarks during the Channels Television interview reflect the Atiku camp’s position that official documents connected to the forfeiture proceedings should be made publicly available, while the Presidency continues to argue that the decades-old matter has already been conclusively resolved.
