Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has urged the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to protect its investigators, confidential sources and sensitive investigative methods while releasing records concerning 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.

He was reacting to the FBI’s request to submit confidential explanations to a US court over its decision to withhold some records linked to investigations involving Tinubu.

The FBI had approached the US District Court for the District of Columbia, seeking permission to file its explanations ex parte and in camera, meaning the information would be presented privately to the judge.

In an August 20 application, the agency argued that publicly disclosing all the reasons for withholding the records could expose sensitive information and potentially put lives at risk.

Atiku, however, said the FBI could protect sensitive material while releasing information that is legally available for public scrutiny.

He urged the agency to safeguard its agents, confidential sources and legitimate investigative methods, while redacting information that must remain private under US law.

Atiku, however, warned against using such protections to shield Tinubu from legitimate public scrutiny.

“The FBI says disclosure could endanger lives. Which lives? Nigerians are already dying,” he said, linking the hardship in Nigeria to the removal of fuel subsidy and its impact on transportation, food prices, production and employment.

According to him, rising fuel costs have increased transportation expenses, which have contributed to higher food and commodity prices while putting additional pressure on businesses and jobs.

“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,” Atiku said.

He clarified that his demand was not for the FBI to expose undercover officers, confidential informants or investigative techniques, but for the agency to release information that US law permits to be made public while properly redacting sensitive portions.

Atiku said the request was not aimed at interfering in Nigerian politics but was a “humanitarian and democratic appeal,” arguing that Nigerians have a right to access information that can legally be disclosed about people who wield significant power over their lives.

He maintained that Nigerians deserve relevant information about the background and character of their leaders, particularly those exercising substantial authority over the country.

The former vice president urged the FBI to clearly distinguish between information that genuinely requires protection and records that can be released without compromising ongoing or sensitive investigations.

Atiku Urges FBI to Release Legally Disclosable Records on Tinubu

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