Former Vice-President and ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has urged the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to release any legally disclosable records relating to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The FBI had asked a US District Court in Columbia to allow it to submit ex parte, in-camera declarations explaining why some records connected to investigations into allegations of drug trafficking involving Tinubu should remain undisclosed.
In a Saturday statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku questioned the FBI’s claim that disclosure could endanger lives.
“The FBI says disclosure could endanger lives. Which lives? Nigerians are already dying.”
He linked Nigerians’ hardship to the removal of fuel subsidy, arguing that higher fuel costs have affected transportation, food prices, production and jobs.
“Fuel affects transportation. Transportation affects food prices. Energy affects production. Production affects jobs.”
Atiku again promised to reverse the subsidy removal if elected, saying his alternative would be accountable and protected against abuse.
He stressed that he was not asking the FBI to expose agents, confidential sources or legitimate investigative methods, but only to release information that can legally be made public while redacting protected material.
“Protect your investigators. Protect your sources. Protect your methods. But do not protect the truth from Nigerians.”
Atiku described the request as a democratic and humanitarian appeal, arguing that Nigerians have a right to legitimately available information about leaders who exercise significant power over their lives.
Source: Phrank Shaibu, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication to Atiku Abubakar.
