Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has urged the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation to protect its investigators, confidential sources and sensitive methods without withholding records about 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, while reacting to the FBI’s request to submit confidential explanations to a United States court over its decision to withhold some records relating to investigations involving Tinubu.
The development followed an application filed by the FBI before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
The agency asked the court for permission to submit some of its explanations ex parte and in camera, meaning the information would be presented privately to the judge and not made available to the public or other parties.
In its August 20 application, the FBI argued that publicly disclosing all the reasons behind its decision to withhold certain records could expose sensitive information and potentially put lives at risk.
The agency maintained that some details could reveal protected investigative methods, confidential sources or other information that should not be released publicly.
However, Atiku rejected the argument that such concerns should prevent the release of records that could legally be made public.
The former vice president said the FBI could protect sensitive information by removing or redacting details that are legally protected while still releasing other documents that are subject to public scrutiny.
Atiku said the protection of investigators, informants and legitimate investigative methods was important, but should not become a reason to shield public officials from lawful scrutiny.
“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,” he said.
Atiku also questioned the FBI’s reference to possible danger to lives, arguing that millions of Nigerians were already facing serious economic difficulties.
“The FBI says disclosure could endanger lives. Which lives? Nigerians are already dying,” he said.
The ADC presidential candidate linked the hardship to some of the economic policies introduced by the Tinubu administration, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy.
Since taking office in May 2023, Tinubu has implemented major economic reforms, including the removal of the petrol subsidy and changes to the foreign exchange system.
The subsidy removal led to a sharp increase in petrol prices and transportation costs, with its effects spreading to food prices and the cost of goods and services.
Although the Federal Government has repeatedly said the reforms are necessary to reduce government spending, attract investment and place the economy on a stronger footing, the policies have also triggered widespread concern over the rising cost of living.
Atiku argued that the effect of higher fuel prices could be seen across the economy.
“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 opposition leader said his request to the FBI should not be seen as an attempt to interfere in Nigerian politics or pressure the American agency to violate its rules.
He said he was only asking the agency to release information that could legally be made public while protecting material that must remain confidential.
“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,” Atiku said.
He maintained that Nigerians had a right to know relevant information about the background and character of people who hold important public offices, especially those who exercise considerable power over the country.
Atiku therefore urged the FBI to carefully separate information that genuinely requires protection from records that could be released without harming ongoing or past investigations.
The latest development is part of continuing legal proceedings in the United States over access to records linked to investigations involving Tinubu.
The issue has attracted attention in Nigeria because of Tinubu’s position as President and the political implications of any records concerning investigations into his past.
Tinubu has previously faced questions and controversies in Nigeria and abroad over aspects of his background and past activities. His supporters have consistently defended him against allegations and have accused political opponents of using old controversies to attack his administration.
Atiku, who was Tinubu’s major challenger in the 2023 presidential election, has remained one of the strongest critics of the administration.
The former vice president has repeatedly attacked the Federal Government’s economic policies, particularly the impact of inflation, the naira’s weakness, petrol prices and the rising cost of living.
He has also criticised what he describes as a lack of transparency in government and has called for greater accountability in the management of public affairs.
The dispute over the FBI records has therefore taken on both legal and political importance.
In the United States, access to government records is generally governed by laws that promote transparency while allowing agencies to withhold certain categories of sensitive information. Such exemptions can cover matters involving national security, confidential sources, investigative techniques, personal privacy and ongoing law-enforcement activities.
The FBI’s latest request to the court does not necessarily mean that all the records in question will remain permanently secret. The court will determine whether the agency has provided sufficient legal grounds for withholding the material.
Atiku’s position is that the court and the FBI should ensure that only information that genuinely requires protection is kept confidential.
He said records that could be disclosed without compromising investigations, exposing confidential sources or endangering individuals should be made available.
The ADC candidate also stressed that public access to relevant information was important in a democracy.
According to him, citizens should be able to examine information about people who occupy positions of power, provided that the release does not violate legitimate legal protections.
He called on the FBI to balance the need for secrecy in sensitive investigations with the public interest in transparency.