Nigeria's presidency defends Tinubu's US records case as civil matter

In early September 2026, the Nigerian presidency responded to a US Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case involving President Bola Tinubu's academic records. The presidency stated that the case is a civil matter, not a criminal proceeding, and that a US court will decide whether the records are released or withheld — not Atiku Abubakar, Tinubu's political rival.

Meanwhile, Nigerian officials including Vice President Kashim Shettima and Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu have defended Tinubu's economic reforms. Shettima said Nigeria's admission into the International Energy Agency (IEA) validates the reforms, while Sanwo-Olu claimed the reforms are putting the country back on track ahead of the 2027 elections. Tinubu himself said the reforms aim to change Nigeria's trajectory.