Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has urged the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation not to allow legitimate protections for confidential sources, investigative techniques and the safety of individuals to become a blanket shield against the disclosure of information concerning President Bola Tinubu that may lawfully be released.
Atiku, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 election, made the call in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, following the FBI’s recent application before a United States federal court over records sought concerning Tinubu.
The FBI had told the US District Court for the District of Columbia that some portions of the requested records could not be fully justified for withholding on the public record because disclosure could reveal sensitive law-enforcement techniques and procedures or reasonably be expected to endanger the life or physical safety of individuals.
The bureau consequently sought permission to submit an ex parte, under-seal declaration to the judge explaining its reliance on certain exemptions under the United States Freedom of Information Act.
Reacting, Atiku said he was not asking the FBI to expose undercover officers, confidential informants or genuinely sensitive investigative methods, but insisted that information capable of lawful disclosure should not be unnecessarily withheld from Nigerians.
“Protect your agents. Protect your sources. Protect legitimate investigative methods. Redact whatever American law genuinely requires you to redact,” Atiku said.
“But do not stretch those protections until they become a bulletproof vest for Tinubu.”
He argued that Nigerians have a legitimate democratic interest in information concerning the history and character of the person occupying the country’s highest political office.
“Our demand of American law enforcement is not a call to interfere in Nigeria’s politics. It is a humanitarian and democratic appeal rooted in the principle that people have a right to information legitimately available about those who exercise enormous power over their lives,” he said.
“Nigerians have a democratic right to know the history and character of the man who occupies their country’s highest office.”
According to Atiku, where information held by American law-enforcement agencies is relevant to that public interest and can lawfully be disclosed without compromising investigations or endangering individuals, principles of openness and democratic accountability should favour disclosure.
“Where information relevant to that legitimate public interest rests with American law enforcement and can lawfully be disclosed, the principles of openness and democratic accountability demand that it should not be unnecessarily hidden,” he said.
“If information can lawfully be released without endangering investigators, confidential sources or legitimate law-enforcement operations, release it.”
“Nigerians are not asking America to conduct our democracy for us. We are saying that American secrecy laws must not inadvertently become a sanctuary from accountability in Nigeria,” he stated.
“Nigerians are not asking America to conduct our democracy for us. We are saying that American secrecy laws must not inadvertently become a sanctuary from accountability in Nigeria,” he stated.
The former vice-president also reacted to the FBI’s assertion that disclosure of some information could reasonably be expected to endanger lives, using the argument to launch a broader criticism of the Tinubu administration’s economic and security record.
“The FBI said that disclosure could endanger lives. Which lives? Nigerians are already dying,” Atiku said.
He alleged that economic policies implemented since Tinubu assumed office had worsened the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians, while insecurity continued to claim lives in parts of the country.
“In the past three and a half years since Tinubu became Nigeria’s President, he has pursued economic policies that have made his government a threat to the daily survival of ordinary Nigerians,” he claimed.
“Many have been killed by terrorists and bandits. Many more have died amid hunger, inability to pay medical bills and the crushing emotional and economic pressure of being unable to provide food, shelter and basic necessities for their families.”