The Presidency has clarified that the ongoing Freedom of Information Act litigation involving President Bola Tinubu before a United States federal court is a civil dispute over access to government records and not a criminal case against the Nigerian leader.

The clarification followed what the Presidency described as speculative reports and public commentary suggesting that the proceedings before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia amounted to a criminal case or represented a judicial finding of wrongdoing against the president.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Presidency said the court had neither charged nor convicted President Tinubu of any criminal offence.

It explained that the case centres on requests for access to records held by US government agencies and whether some of the information can lawfully remain withheld or redacted under American law.

The Presidency cautioned against interpreting the release or withholding of documents under the Freedom of Information Act as evidence of criminal liability, stressing that the central issue before the court is whether government records should be disclosed and whether the agencies properly applied the statutory exemptions provided under US law.