A Washington, D.C.-based Republican policy advisory and lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., says it has begun briefing members of the United States Congress and senior congressional staff over allegations concerning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and alleged heroin trafficking dating back to the 1980s and 1990s.

The firm disclosed this in a statement posted on its verified X account on Wednesday, saying its outreach to Capitol Hill followed recent developments surrounding a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case involving US records connected to the allegations.

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According to the firm, members of Congress and senior congressional aides returned to Washington on Wednesday, prompting it to immediately begin contacting its Capitol Hill associates.

“Members of Congress and senior congressional staff returned to Washington today, and we wasted no time,” the firm stated.

It said its discussions were focused on what it described as allegations that Tinubu was involved in a criminal organisation that allegedly smuggled heroin from Nigeria into the United States during the 1980s and 1990s.

Firm Raises US National Security Concerns

Von Batten-Montague-York argued that the allegations should not be treated merely as an issue of Nigerian domestic politics, claiming that they could have implications for US interests.

The firm specifically mentioned national security, law enforcement cooperation, intelligence sharing and counter-narcotics operations as areas that could potentially be affected.

It also questioned whether Tinubu should continue to be regarded by Washington as a strategic partner, asking whether the Nigerian President represents “a strategic asset or an increasing national-security liability.”

In its statement, the firm made a series of highly serious allegations against Tinubu and urged Americans to contact their representatives in Congress over the matter.

It also criticised the administration of former US President Joe Biden, alleging that the US Department of Justice had fought to prevent the release of records relating to the allegations.

Allegations Have Previously Faced Legal and Public Scrutiny

The claims referenced by the lobbying firm are not new and have previously attracted public and legal scrutiny in the United States, particularly around records held by US law-enforcement agencies.

However, it is important to distinguish the lobbying firm’s allegations from established findings of criminal guilt.

President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have denied wrongdoing and rejected allegations linking him to heroin trafficking. They have also maintained that Tinubu has not been convicted of heroin trafficking.

The latest development therefore centres on the lobbying firm’s decision to bring the allegations to members of Congress following developments in the FOIA litigation and its argument that US policymakers should consider the matter when assessing Washington’s relationship with Abuja.

What Happens Next?

The lobbying firm’s congressional outreach could potentially draw renewed attention to the underlying US records and the ongoing debate over their disclosure.

Any congressional action, however, would depend on what records are available, what the FOIA litigation ultimately establishes or releases, and whether US lawmakers decide to pursue the matter further.