A United States-based firm, Solution Discovery Inc., has claimed that it was offered a $3 million bribe to drop its investigation into President Bola Tinubu’s alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking and money laundering.
The company’s CEO, James E. Doyle, made the allegation in an official letter addressed to the United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota, Andrew M. Luger, on August 26, 2026.
The letter was also copied to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Doyle said he was approached by intermediaries representing the Nigerian government, who allegedly demanded that his company discontinue its investigation.
“A demand was made through undisclosed intermediaries… that the firm must cease and desist from any further investigation into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s alleged narcotics trafficking and money laundering, or risk a $3 million forfeiture of a cashier’s cheque that was intended for the firm as compensation for damages under the terms of a settlement with other parties,” Doyle wrote.
He said Solution Discovery was engaged by a US law firm in February 2025 to examine previous United States government investigations into Tinubu.
The investigation, he said, focused on the United States Department of Justice’s handling of a case against Tinubu related to narcotics trafficking and money laundering.
Doyle said the review required access to classified information, including documents from the DEA, FBI, and other US agencies.
He said the intermediary claimed to have received presidential approval to ensure that the investigation was halted.
According to him, the offer was made to interfere with the investigation into Tinubu.
“In June 2026, an intermediary… demanded, in exchange for the $3 million cashier’s cheque, that Solution Discovery stop its investigation into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and issue a statement that no credible evidence was found to support the allegations of narcotics trafficking and money laundering against President Tinubu,” Doyle added.
Doyle also said he informed the White House and the National Security Adviser about the approach.
“The matter was reported to the White House and the National Security Adviser, who indicated that… the demand would constitute a serious breach of law,” he wrote.
He added that no further steps were taken by the executive branch at the time.
“No further action was taken by the executive branch at that time,” Doyle wrote.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has denied the allegation.
In a statement by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government said no intermediary was authorised to make such an offer.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria is not aware of the issues raised in the letter. No intermediary was authorised by the Federal Government of Nigeria or any of its agencies to make such a demand,” Idris said.
He said the administration of President Tinubu is committed to the rule of law and has not attempted to interfere in any investigation.
“The administration of President Tinubu is committed to the rule of law and has not and will not do anything to interfere in the activities of any local or international investigation,” he added.
Idris described the allegations as an attempt to distract the administration and its agencies.
“We view these allegations as a distraction from the serious governance and economic recovery efforts of the present administration,” he said.
