A fabricated letter purportedly written by President Bola Tinubu to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has been circulating on social media. The letter, dated September 19, allegedly appeals to Guterres to engage the US government and President Donald Trump over Tinubu's "past drug-related case" in Chicago. The letter claims the incident occurred many years ago and that Tinubu has since devoted his life to public service and democratic governance in Nigeria.
The purported letter surfaced on social media, eliciting reactions from several netizens. Mubarak Abdullahi, an activist and public figure, shared the letter on Facebook, garnering 477 likes, 135 comments, and 48 shares. Abdullahi's post was captioned "Atiku is coming…," referencing Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress and a contender in the 2027 election.
The alleged drug case dates back to 1993 in Chicago, and US journalist Aaron Greenspan filed a Freedom of Information lawsuit in a Washington, DC court seeking investigation details. Greenspan sought records from US law-enforcement agencies relating to historical investigations involving Tinubu and other individuals. The litigation has involved records held by agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The Nigerian Presidency dismissed reports surrounding the ongoing Freedom of Information Act case involving records on Tinubu before a US federal court in Washington, DC. The Presidency stressed that the matter is a civil dispute over access to government records and does not constitute a criminal case against Tinubu. According to the Presidency, the matter dates back to 2022, when Greenspan submitted FOIA requests to several US government agencies seeking records relating to Tinubu.
Several red flags indicate that the purported letter is not an authentic presidential communication. The letterhead uses an unofficial logo, and the signature on the purported letter differs noticeably from publicly available samples of Tinubu's signature. The date format used on the document is also inconsistent with previous official communications from the President.
The purported letter did not emanate from President Bola Tinubu or the Presidency, and it is conspicuously fabricated. There is no credible evidence showing that Tinubu sent such a letter to Guterres or that the UN Secretary-General was asked to intervene in the US matter. The fabrication of the letter appears to be an attempt to manipulate public opinion.
The incident highlights the need for fact-checking and verification of information, especially in the context of high-stakes elections. The spread of misinformation can have significant consequences, and it is essential to rely on credible sources and fact-checking initiatives to ensure the accuracy of information. The Presidency has not issued a specific rebuttal to the purported letter, but the evidence suggests that it is a fabrication.
Key points
- The purported letter is fabricated and did not emanate from President Bola Tinubu or the Presidency.
- The alleged drug case dates back to 1993 in Chicago, and US journalist Aaron Greenspan filed a Freedom of Information lawsuit seeking investigation details.
- The Nigerian Presidency has dismissed reports surrounding the ongoing Freedom of Information Act case involving records on Tinubu before a US federal court in Washington, DC.
