Former Vice President and 2027 presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has challenged the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over its decision to withhold certain records relating to President Bola Tinubu.
The FBI had asked a US District Court in the District of Columbia to permit it to file, ex parte and in camera, declarations explaining why some records linked to its investigation of allegations involving Tinubu should remain undisclosed.
In an application dated August 20, the agency said it could not publicly disclose all the reasons for withholding the records, citing concerns including potential danger to individuals.
Reacting to the development in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku questioned the justification for keeping the records from public scrutiny.
“The FBI says disclosure could endanger lives. Which lives? Nigerians are already dying,” Atiku said.
He linked the hardship faced by Nigerians to the removal of the fuel subsidy, arguing that the policy had contributed to rising transportation costs, food prices, production expenses and unemployment.
According to him, the impact of fuel prices extends across the economy and directly affects the ability of ordinary families to meet their basic needs.
Atiku reiterated his pledge to reverse the fuel subsidy removal if elected president, saying his proposed approach would be transparent and protected against abuse.
Addressing the FBI’s concerns, the former vice president said he was not demanding the disclosure of sensitive operational information, confidential sources or investigative techniques.
“Protect your agents. Protect your sources. Protect legitimate investigative methods. Redact whatever American law genuinely requires you to redact,” he said.
However, he argued that such protections should not be extended to information that can legally be made public.
Atiku described the request for disclosure as a democratic and humanitarian appeal rather than an attempt to interfere in Nigeria’s political affairs.
He maintained that Nigerians have a right to access information that can legitimately be disclosed about individuals occupying positions of significant political power.
“Protect your investigators. Protect your sources. Protect your methods. But do not protect the truth from Nigerians. Our people are already paying for bad governance with their lives,” he said.
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