Jelili Gbadamosi
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to release records concerning investigations involving President Bola Tinubu that can legally be made public.
Atiku made the call in a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, following the FBI’s request to provide confidential explanations for withholding some records linked to investigations involving the Nigerian president.
The FBI had approached a US District Court in the District of Columbia, asking for permission to submit its explanations privately and without public disclosure.
In an application dated August 20, the agency argued that revealing the full reasons for withholding some of the records could expose sensitive information and potentially put lives at risk.
Atiku, however, said the agency could protect confidential information without keeping records that are legally available for public scrutiny from Nigerians.
He urged the FBI to protect its agents, confidential sources and investigative methods while redacting portions of documents that are required to remain private under US law.
The ADC candidate, however, cautioned against using those protections to prevent legitimate public scrutiny of Tinubu.
“The FBI says disclosure could endanger lives, but Nigerians are already suffering and dying as a result of the hardship caused by the Tinubu administration’s economic policies,” Atiku said.
He linked the economic hardship in Nigeria to the removal of the fuel subsidy, arguing that the policy had contributed to higher transportation costs, rising food prices, increased production expenses and pressure on employment.
According to Atiku, increases in fuel prices affect transportation, which subsequently influences the cost of food and other goods, while higher energy costs also affect businesses and job opportunities.
“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.
Atiku stressed that his demand was not for the FBI to disclose the identities of undercover agents, confidential informants or sensitive investigative techniques.
Instead, he urged the agency to release information that could legally be made public while removing details that require protection.
“This is not an attempt to interfere in Nigeria’s politics. It is a humanitarian and democratic appeal because Nigerians have the right to access information that can legitimately be made public about those who exercise enormous power over their lives,” he said.
Atiku maintained that Nigerians deserved access to relevant information concerning the background and character of their leaders, particularly individuals exercising significant political authority.
He therefore urged the FBI to distinguish between records whose disclosure could genuinely compromise investigations and information that could be released without undermining its operations.
