His Excellency Donald J. Trump
President of the United States of America
The White House
Washington, D.C.
August 22, 2026.
Subject: Demand for Transparency and an End to the Withholding of Records in the Tinubu Chicago Case
Dear President Trump,
I write as a concerned Nigerian and advocate of due process to respectfully call your attention to the prolonged controversy surrounding records reportedly held by United States federal agencies concerning Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and matters arising from the long-running Chicago records case.
Growing up, I was taught to believe that the United States stood firmly for justice, equality, transparency and the rule of law. These principles have, for generations, made America a reference point for democratic governance around the world.
It is therefore deeply troubling to many Nigerians that the controversy surrounding the release of records relating to President Tinubu has continued for years, with questions remaining about why documents sought through the American judicial system have not been made fully available to the public.
The matter has reportedly remained before the United States courts since 2022. Now, as the legal process approaches another significant deadline, Nigerians are watching closely and asking a simple question: What exactly is contained in these records, and why has their disclosure become so difficult?
Mr. President, this is not merely a Nigerian political dispute. It is a matter that has become a test of the credibility of the institutions of the United States and their commitment to equal application of the law.
If the records contain nothing capable of substantiating the allegations surrounding President Tinubu, their disclosure through the proper judicial process should help settle the controversy. If they contain information of legitimate public interest, Nigerians equally deserve to know the truth.
The FBI, DEA and other relevant U.S. agencies must not be allowed to turn a matter of legitimate public interest into an endless bureaucratic drama. Any legitimate claim of confidentiality, privilege or legal restriction should be determined transparently by the courts and according to established American law—not through unexplained delays or seemingly endless extensions.
I therefore respectfully urge your administration to ensure that the appropriate U.S. authorities comply fully with lawful court orders and allow the judicial process to run its course without unnecessary obstruction or delay.
Nigerians are particularly concerned because President Tinubu occupies the highest elected office in Africa’s most populous country. Any unresolved questions concerning his past inevitably have implications for public confidence, Nigeria’s democratic institutions and the credibility of its international relationships.
Let me make clear that this appeal is not a demand for the United States to determine the political fate of Nigeria or to interfere in Nigeria’s sovereignty. Rather, it is a demand that the United States uphold the same standards of transparency, accountability and due process that it routinely encourages other nations to observe.
America’s moral authority does not come merely from its military or economic strength. It comes from the credibility of its institutions and the principle that no individual, regardless of wealth, political influence or international connections, should be placed above the law.
There are also widespread concerns among Nigerians that powerful lobbying networks may be attempting to influence the handling or perception of this matter for private political or financial interests. Such concerns should not be allowed to undermine public confidence in America’s justice system.
Mr. President, I therefore respectfully appeal to you to encourage the relevant American institutions to bring this prolonged controversy to a lawful and transparent conclusion.
August 28, 2026, must not become another date for an endless cycle of postponements. If the courts have directed the relevant agencies to respond by that date, Nigerians deserve to see the matter addressed in accordance with the law, without further unnecessary delay.
The Nigerian people deserve the truth. They deserve to know whether the allegations and questions surrounding these records have any factual foundation. They deserve to know whether the documents exist, what legal basis—if any—prevents their disclosure, and why the process has taken so long.
Above all, Nigerians deserve to know that the world’s most powerful democracy has not compromised its principles because of political connections, lobbying or diplomatic considerations.
Mr. President, let justice be done, let the courts decide, and let the truth prevail.
The United States has long presented itself as a champion of democracy and the rule of law. This is an opportunity to demonstrate that those principles apply not only when convenient, but also when the matter is politically sensitive.
I respectfully ask your administration to ensure that this matter is brought to a lawful, transparent and definitive conclusion, without further unnecessary extensions beyond the established judicial timetable.
The world is watching. Nigerians are watching. And history will judge how institutions on both sides of the Atlantic responded to the demand for truth and accountability.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Yours faithfully,
Akor Christian Oche
(Due Process)
National Youth Leader,
Coalition for the Protection of Democracy COPDEM.
Contact: dueprocessibbu@gmail.com
X: @Dueprocessworld
