The Presidency has dismissed speculation that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s three-week European vacation is linked to the fresh legal battle in the United States over the release of historical records concerning him.
Presidential Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, described the speculation as an “orchestrated distraction”, insisting that Tinubu’s trip was planned long before the latest developments in the U.S. court case.
According to Dare, the President is simply on his annual leave and there is “absolutely no connection” between his European trip and the ongoing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) proceedings in the United States.
The controversy erupted as a U.S. federal court case seeking access to records concerning Tinubu entered another phase.
A sworn declaration filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the case has reportedly stated that Tinubu was a subject of a criminal investigation involving the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration in the early 1990s. The records battle, however, does not by itself establish that Tinubu committed a crime.
Dare, while reacting to the renewed attention, said attempts to connect the President’s movements to the U.S. proceedings were designed to create a false narrative.
He maintained that Tinubu’s trip had been scheduled as part of his annual leave and was intended to give him time to “refuel” after months of intense government activities.
Tinubu left Abuja on August 30 for a three-week working vacation, with London, United Kingdom, as his first stop.
The Presidency says the President will remain in touch with government officials and continue receiving briefings on major national issues while away.
He is expected back in Nigeria after the break to join the hectic political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
The timing of the trip has nevertheless generated political debate, coming amid renewed scrutiny of the U.S. records and growing preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
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