Resurfaced US Embassy letter lists Tinubu’s birth date
A 2003 United States Embassy letter has resurfaced online, listing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s date of birth as March 29, 1952, in connection with a criminal record check conducted through the FBI’s National Crime Information Center.
The document, dated February 4, 2003, was written by Michael H. Bonner, then Legal Attaché at the American Consulate in Lagos. It was addressed to Tafa Balogun, who was Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police at the time.
The letter followed a formal request from Balogun dated February 3, 2003, seeking information about Tinubu from the FBI’s NCIC database.
What the 2003 FBI-related letter says
According to the document, the database search returned no records of criminal arrests, outstanding warrants or wanted notices associated with Bola Ahmed Tinubu, born March 29, 1952.
“The result of the checks were negative for any criminal arrest records, wants, or warrants for Bola Ahmed Tinubu (DOB 29 March 1952),” Bonner wrote.
The letter also noted that the search did not produce information linked to the Nigerian police department that submitted the inquiry.
The document was shared on X by Reno Omokri, an ambassador-designate and former presidential aide. It also carries a certified true copy stamp from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in Lagos State.
What the FBI’s NCIC search can—and cannot—show
The NCIC is a nationwide law-enforcement database operated by the FBI. It contains information supplied by law-enforcement agencies across the United States and its territories.
However, a negative NCIC result has a limited meaning. It indicates that the search did not identify a matching US-based criminal arrest record, warrant or wanted notice at the time it was conducted.
It does not automatically address:
– Civil lawsuits
– Financial investigations
– Immigration records
– Foreign criminal proceedings
– Private investigative files
– Records held outside the NCIC system
The letter itself made no reference to financial matters or foreign legal proceedings involving Tinubu.
Why the birth date entry has drawn attention
Tinubu’s date of birth has been the subject of public debate in Nigeria for several years. As a result, the appearance of March 29, 1952 in an official US Embassy document has attracted renewed attention online.
The document does not, by itself, establish the complete history of Tinubu’s personal or legal records. Instead, it records the result of a specific database inquiry carried out in 2003 and identifies the date of birth used for that search.
Tinubu’s separate legal battle over FBI records
The resurfaced letter comes amid a separate legal dispute in the United States involving records linked to Tinubu.
Tinubu filed a response in a US district court seeking to prevent the release of FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration files requested by researcher Aaron Greenspan. The request relates to an investigation involving alleged drug activity in Chicago during the early 1990s.
Tinubu’s lawyers argued that the records should remain protected under US privacy law. They also maintained that personal curiosity about a foreign political figure does not satisfy the public-interest requirement under the Freedom of Information Act.
The current court case and the 2003 NCIC letter concern different records and legal processes. The embassy document relates specifically to a criminal-record database search, while the court dispute concerns the possible release of investigative files under US law.
What the document does not prove
The letter confirms that the NCIC search identified no matching US arrest records, warrants or wanted notices under the details provided.
It does not constitute a blanket clearance covering every possible investigation, jurisdiction or category of record. It also does not resolve wider political debates about Tinubu’s biography or legal history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What date of birth does the 2003 US Embassy letter list for Bola Tinubu?
The letter lists Tinubu’s date of birth as March 29, 1952.
Who wrote the letter about Tinubu?
It was written by Michael H. Bonner, the Legal Attaché at the American Consulate in Lagos.
What did the FBI database search find?
The letter says the NCIC search found no criminal arrest records, outstanding warrants or wanted notices connected to Tinubu under the details supplied.
What is the NCIC?
The National Crime Information Center is an FBI-operated US law-enforcement database containing records such as arrests, warrants and wanted-person notices.
Does a negative NCIC search clear someone of all legal issues?
No. It only reflects the result of that particular US database search. It does not cover foreign records, civil cases or every type of federal investigative file.
Why is the document significant?
The document has drawn attention because it records Tinubu’s date of birth as March 29, 1952, an issue that has been publicly debated in Nigeria.