Based on the fact that a 1993 civil forfeiture lawsuit became one of the most popular dockets on PlainSite, PlainSite founder Aaron Greenspan sued six United States government agencies over their denial of FOIA requests and subsequent administrative appeals about Nigerian President Bold Tinubu, newly elected as of May 2023 in a highly controversial election.
Cross MOTION for Summary Judgment by CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION. (Attachments: # (1) Memorandum in Support, # (2) Statement of Facts, # (3) Exhibit Ex. 1 (Seidel Decl.), # (4) Exhibit Ex. 2 (Davis Decl.), # (5) Exhibit Ex. 3 (Williams Decl.), # (6) Text of Proposed Order)(Littman, M.)
RESPONSE re [41] MOTION for Summary Judgment filed by CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION. (Attachments: # (1) Memorandum in Support, # (2) Statement of Facts, # (3) Exhibit Ex. 1 (Seidel Decl.), # (4) Exhibit Ex. 2 (Davis Decl.), # (5) Exhibit Ex. 3 (Williams Decl.), # (6) Text of Proposed Order)(Littman, M.)
MOTION for Summary Judgment by AARON GREENSPAN. (Attachments: # (1) Memorandum in Support, # (2) Statement of Facts, # (3) Declaration of Aaron Greenspan, # (4) Exhibit A-E to Declaration of Aaron Greenspan, # (5) Text of Proposed Order)(GREENSPAN, AARON)
STIPULATION of Dismissal as to Defendants EOUSA, State, and IRS by AARON GREENSPAN. (GREENSPAN, AARON)
Filed: 8/8/2024, Entered: 8/8/2024
Minute Order
MINUTE ORDER (paperless) upon consideration of the parties' [39] Joint Status Report and Proposed Briefing Schedule, ISSUING the following SCHEDULING ORDER:
(1) by September 12, 2024, plaintiff shall file any motion for summary judgment;
(2) by November 11, 2024, defendant shall file any opposition and cross-motion for summary judgment;
(3) by December 11, 2024, plaintiff shall file any reply and opposition to plaintiff's cross-motion; and
(4) by January 27, 2025, defendant shall file any reply in support of the cross-motion. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on August 8, 2024. (lcbah2)
Joint STATUS REPORT and Proposed Briefing Schedule by CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR U.S. ATTORNEYS, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION. (Littman, M.)
Joint STATUS REPORT by CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR U.S. ATTORNEYS, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION. (Littman, M.)
ANSWER to [35] Amended Complaint,,,,,,,,,,,, by CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR U.S. ATTORNEYS, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION.(Littman, M.)
NOTICE of Consent by CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR U.S. ATTORNEYS, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (Littman, M.)
Filed: 3/25/2024, Entered: 3/25/2024
Minute Order
MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING defendants to submit to the Court, by March 25, 2024, a notice stating whether they consent to the filing of plaintiff's [35] Amended Complaint under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a)(2). Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on March 25, 2024. (lcbah2)
Joint STATUS REPORT by CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR U.S. ATTORNEYS, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION. (Littman, M.)
Joint STATUS REPORT by CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR U.S. ATTORNEYS, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION. (Littman, M.)
Filed: 11/27/2023, Entered: 11/27/2023
Minute Order
MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DENYING plaintiff's [30] Motion to Unseal Case Records Concerning Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Associates, as amended by plaintiff's [31] Errata, the thrust of which motion appears to seek the final relief in this action and is both unwarranted and inappropriate at this procedural stage. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on November 27, 2023. (lcbah2)
Filed: 11/27/2023, Entered: 11/27/2023
Minute Order
MINUTE ORDER (paperless) GRANTING proposed intervenor Bola A. Tinubu's [18] Motion to Intervene. "On timely motion, the court must permit anyone to intervene who... claims an interest relating to the property or transaction that is the subject of the action, and is so situated that disposing of the action may as a practical matter impair or impede the movant's ability to protect its interest, unless existing parties adequately represent that interest." Fed. R. Civ. P. 24(a)(2). A party's right to intervene under this rule depends on four factors: "(1) the timeliness of the motion; (2) whether the applicant claims an interest relating to the property or transaction which is the subject of the action; (3) whether the applicant is so situated that the disposition of the action may as a practical matter impair or impede the applicant's ability to protect that interest; and (4) whether the applicant's interest is adequately represented by existing parties." Fund for Animals, Inc. v. Norton, 322 F.3d 728, 731 (D.C. Cir. 2003) (cleaned up). Here, all four factors favor granting the intervention of Bola A. Tinubu in this matter. First, as to timeliness, the federal defendants have yet to inform the Court if they have made any productions to the plaintiff, and no dispositive motions have been filed. Tinubu's intervention will thus have no disruptive effect, as he has intervened in time to follow any briefing schedule that will later be imposed. Second and third, Tinubu has a cognizable interest that may be impaired because the FOIA requests at issue pertain to information about him that would implicate his privacy interests. Fourth and finally, Tinubu's interests are not adequately represented by any existing party, because the government defendants do not share identical privacy interests in the records as Tinubu, and they have not opposed his intervention. Accordingly, the Court finds that Tinubu's motion and incorporated memorandum satisfy the requirements of Rule 24(c). See, e.g., Mandan, Hidatsa & Arikara Nation v. U.S. Dep't of the Interior, No. 20-cv-1918 (ABJ), 2020 WL 12655958, at *3 (D.D.C. Aug. 27, 2020). Therefore, Tinubu's motion is GRANTED.
It is further ORDERED that Bola A. Tinubu will follow all deadlines set for the federal defendants in any scheduling orders, and endeavor in good faith to avoid duplicative briefing of arguments covered in the federal defendants' briefs. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on November 27, 2023. (lcbah2)
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER DENYING plaintiff's [22] Motion for Reconsideration; FURTHER DENYING plaintiff's [23] Motion to Take Judicial Notice; and FURTHER DENYING plaintiff's [28] Motion to Take Judicial Notice. See Memorandum and Order for further details. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on November 21, 2023. (lcbah2)
MOTION to Take Judicial Notice by AARON GREENSPAN. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit A: Abubakar v. Chicago State University, ILND Case No. 1:23-cv-05099 ECF No. 34)(GREENSPAN, AARON)
Attachment 1 Exhibit A: Abubakar v. Chicago State University, ILND Case No. 1:23-cv-05099 ECF No. 34
RESPONSE re [22] MOTION for Reconsideration re [21] Order on Motion for Hearing filed by CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR U.S. ATTORNEYS, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION. (Littman, M.)
MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Victor P. Henderson, Counsel for Intervenor Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-10452979. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by BOLA A. TINUBU. (Attachments: # (1) Declaration of Victor P. Henderson, # (2) Letter of Good Standing, # (3) Text of Proposed Order)(Redd, Julius)
MOTION Request for Judicial Notice by AARON GREENSPAN. (GREENSPAN, AARON)
Filed: 10/25/2023, Entered: 10/25/2023
Minute Order
MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING that defendants, who filed no response to plaintiff's [17] Emergency Motion for a Hearing to Compel Immediate Document Production filed on Friday, October 20, 2023, respond to plaintiff's [22] Motion for Reconsideration by Monday, October 30, 2023, at 12:00PM, with any reply due by Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on October 25, 2023. (lcbah2)
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER DENYING the plaintiff's [17] Emergency Motion for Hearing to Compel Immediate Document Production. See Order for further details. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on October 23, 2023. (lcbah2)
RESPONSE re [18] MOTION to Intervene filed by CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR U.S. ATTORNEYS, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION. (Littman, M.)
Memorandum in opposition to re [18] Motion to Intervene filed by AARON GREENSPAN. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit A: Affidavit of IRS Special Agent Kevin Moss Dated July 20, 1993, # (2) Exhibit B: Unsigned Declaration of IRS Attorney Joshua F. Fruto Received October 5, 2023, # (3) Exhibit C: Determination and Letter to Independent Journalist David Hundeyin From Ghana Refugee Board Granting Refugee Status)(GREENSPAN, AARON)
Attachment 1 Exhibit A: Affidavit of IRS Special Agent Kevin Moss Dated July 20, 1993
Attachment 2 Exhibit B: Unsigned Declaration of IRS Attorney Joshua F. Fruto Received October 5, 2023
Attachment 3 Exhibit C: Determination and Letter to Independent Journalist David Hundeyin From Ghana Refugee Board Granting Refugee Status
Amended MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Christopher W. Carmichael, counsel for intervenor Fee Status: No Fee Paid. by Bola A Tinubu. (Attachments: # (1) Declaration Declaration, # (2) Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing)(Carey, Bryan)
MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Christopher W. Carmichael, counsel for plaintiff Filing fee $ 100, receipt number BDCDC-10428224. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by AARON GREENSPAN. (Attachments: # (1) Declaration, # (2) Exhibit)(Carey, Bryan)
ANSWER to Complaint - Supplemental Answer to First Amended Complaint, ECF No. 13 by CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY.(Littman, M.)
Filed: 9/11/2023, Entered: 9/11/2023
Minute Order
MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING, upon consideration of the parties' [12] Joint Status Report, the parties to file another joint status report by December 8, 2023, advising the Court of the status of this matter. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on September 11, 2023. (lcbah2)
ANSWER to [8] Amended Complaint,,,,,,,, by CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR U.S. ATTORNEYS, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION.(Littman, M.)
Joint STATUS REPORT by CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR U.S. ATTORNEYS, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION. (Littman, M.)
ANSWER to [1] Complaint by EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR U.S. ATTORNEYS, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION.(Littman, M.)
Filed: None, Entered: None
***Set/Reset Deadlines
Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer due by 8/28/2023. (ztg)
Filed: None, Entered: None
***Set/Reset Deadlines
Set/Reset Deadlines: Answer due by 8/28/2023. (ztg)
Filed: None, Entered: None
Order on Motion for Extension of Time to
MINUTE ORDER (paperless) GRANTING defendants' [6] Consent Motion for Extension of Time to Respond and DIRECTING defendants to respond to plaintiff's [1] Complaint by August 28, 2023. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on July 18, 2023. (lcbah2)
Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to Respond by EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR U.S. ATTORNEYS, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, U.S. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION. (Littman, M.)
MINUTE ORDER (paperless) GRANTING plaintiff's [3] Motion for Leave to File Electronically via CM/ECF. The Court finds that plaintiff has satisfied the requirements of Local Civil Rule 5.4(b)(2). Plaintiff is reminded that only he can use the CM/ECF password. Upon obtaining a CM/ECF password from the Clerk, plaintiff consents to electronic service of all documents and is responsible for monitoring his e-mail account, retrieving electronic filings, filing a timely response when required, and ensuring the accuracy of the official docket entry generated by the CM/ECF software. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on June 28, 2023. (lcbah2)