US Embassy Document Records Tinubu’s Date of Birth as March 29, 1952 in 2003 FBI Check
A United States Embassy document from 2003 has resurfaced online, drawing fresh attention to the long-running public debate surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s date of birth.
The document, dated February 4, 2003, was signed by Michael H. Bonner, then Legal Attaché at the US Consulate in Lagos, and addressed to Tafa Balogun, who was Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police at the time.
According to the document, an inquiry was made to the FBI’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) regarding Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The response reportedly recorded Tinubu’s date of birth as March 29, 1952, while stating that the database search produced no criminal arrest records, outstanding warrants or wanted notices associated with the name and date of birth supplied.
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What the FBI document actually says
The letter was reportedly issued following a request from the Nigerian Police authorities on February 3, 2003.
In its response, the US Embassy said checks conducted through the NCIC returned negative results for criminal arrest records, wants or warrants for “Bola Ahmed Tinubu (DOB 29 March 1952).”
The document has subsequently attracted attention because of the date of birth contained in the official correspondence.
However, the wording of the letter is important. The document establishes that March 29, 1952 was the date of birth associated with Tinubu in the information submitted for that particular FBI/NCIC inquiry in 2003. It does not, by itself, constitute independent proof that the date is his legally or historically established date of birth.
Reno Omokri shares document
The document was brought back into public discussion after former presidential aide and political activist Reno Omokri shared it on X.
The copy circulating online also bears what appears to be a certified-true-copy stamp from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in Lagos.
The development has reignited conversations about Tinubu’s personal records, particularly his date of birth, which has been the subject of political controversy for several years.
What the NCIC search means
The FBI’s National Crime Information Center is a US law-enforcement information system used to provide access to records relevant to criminal justice and public safety.
Consequently, a negative NCIC search should not automatically be interpreted as a blanket clearance of every allegation or legal issue concerning an individual.
It simply means that the particular search reportedly found no matching US criminal arrest records, outstanding wants or warrants in the database based on the information submitted.
It also does not establish anything about criminal or civil records held outside the United States.
Tinubu’s records remain subject of political debate
The resurfacing of the document comes amid continuing political arguments over various aspects of President Tinubu’s personal and legal history.
Separately, US court proceedings have involved attempts by researchers to obtain FBI and DEA records concerning investigations linked to Tinubu dating back to the early 1990s.
Tinubu’s legal team has opposed the release of certain records, arguing that privacy protections under US law apply and that the requests do not meet the required public-interest threshold.
The latest document, however, concerns a separate 2003 inquiry and should therefore be considered on its own terms.
Headlineswave.ng will continue to distinguish between what official documents actually establish and claims made about them, as part of its commitment to verification and responsible reporting.
