Atiku Demands Answers as FBI Keeps Tinubu Records Secret
Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has demanded answers from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over its decision to keep some records concerning President Bola Tinubu from public view.
Atiku questioned the agency’s claim that releasing the records could endanger lives, arguing that such a justification should not prevent information that can legitimately be disclosed from reaching the public.
The FBI had asked the US District Court for the District of Columbia for permission to privately explain why it withheld some investigative records linked to allegations of drug trafficking involving Tinubu.
In an application dated August 20, the agency said it could not publicly disclose all the reasons behind its decision, asking to present some of the explanations to the court ex parte and in camera.
Reacting in a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku questioned the basis for the secrecy.
“The FBI says disclosure could endanger lives. Which lives? Nigerians are already dying,” he said.
Atiku connected the issue to the economic hardship Nigerians are facing, particularly the removal of the fuel subsidy.
He argued that the policy had contributed to rising transportation and food costs, increased production expenses and placed additional pressure on jobs and household incomes.
“Fuel affects transportation. Transportation affects food prices. Energy affects production. Production affects jobs.
All of them determine whether an ordinary Nigerian family can survive until the end of the month,” he said.
The former Vice President also reiterated his pledge to reverse the fuel subsidy removal if elected, saying his approach would be transparent and protected against abuse.
On the FBI records, Atiku said he was not calling for the disclosure of information that could genuinely compromise investigations.
He said the identities of undercover agents, confidential sources and legitimate investigative methods could remain protected where required by law.
“Protect your agents. Protect your sources. Protect legitimate investigative methods.
Redact whatever American law genuinely requires you to redact. But do not stretch those protections until they become a bulletproof vest for Tinubu,” he said.
Atiku maintained that his position was a call for transparency and not an attempt to interfere with the US judicial process.
He insisted that Nigerians have a right to information concerning the background and character of the person occupying the country’s highest political office.
