Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has questioned the decision by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to withhold certain records connected to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Atiku argued that the FBI’s claim that releasing some of the documents could potentially endanger lives was difficult to reconcile with the economic hardship being experienced by millions of Nigerians.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the FBI’s position as ironic, particularly amid concerns over rising living costs and declining purchasing power in Nigeria.
The controversy follows an FBI application before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia seeking permission to provide confidential, closed-door explanations for why portions of investigative records relating to allegations of drug trafficking involving Tinubu were withheld.
According to the application dated August 20, the agency argued that it could not publicly disclose all the reasons behind the redactions and therefore requested permission to submit declarations ex parte and in camera.
Reacting to the development, Atiku questioned whose lives the FBI was seeking to protect, arguing that Nigerians were already facing severe economic difficulties.
He connected the situation to the removal of the petrol subsidy, maintaining that the policy had triggered a chain reaction affecting transportation, food prices, energy costs, production and employment.
According to Atiku, rising fuel costs have increased transportation expenses, which in turn have contributed to higher food prices and increased production costs, placing additional pressure on households across the country.
The ADC presidential candidate also reiterated his position that the fuel subsidy removal should be reversed if he wins the presidency, promising an alternative framework that he said would promote accountability while preventing misuse.
On the withheld FBI records, Atiku stressed that his demand was not for sensitive intelligence to be exposed. He said legitimate protections for undercover personnel, confidential sources and investigative techniques should remain intact.
He, however, argued that information that can legally be disclosed should be made available rather than allowing broad claims of confidentiality to prevent public scrutiny.
Atiku framed the demand as a matter of democratic accountability and the public’s right to information, rather than an attempt to interfere in Nigeria’s domestic political affairs.
He maintained that Nigerians deserve access to legitimately releasable information concerning individuals who hold significant political power and make decisions that directly affect the lives and welfare of citizens.
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The former vice president’s comments add another dimension to the ongoing debate over the release of FBI records relating to Tinubu, while also highlighting the wider political dispute surrounding Nigeria’s economic policies and the impact of rising living costs on citizens.
