The Atiku Media Office has renewed its attack on President Bola Tinubu over his past US narcotics-related records, accusing the Presidency of attempting to downplay the controversy, just as they called for the release of documents reportedly held by the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Justice (DOJ).
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, the media office faulted a recent response by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, describing it as an attempt to “whitewash” the controversy surrounding the President’s past legal records in the United States.
According to the statement, the Presidency’s claim that the issue had long been settled does not remove public interest in the matter, particularly given Tinubu’s position as Nigeria’s President.
The Atiku Media Office argued that if the case had truly been laid to rest, there should be no opposition to renewed public scrutiny of the records.
It stated, “If the case against their principal is truly time-barred, why are they so panicky about any attempt to revisit it? Why is President Tinubu blocking every move to unravel what is in his FBI/DOJ US files?”
The statement maintained that occupying the nation’s highest office comes with greater responsibility and accountability, stressing that issues relating to integrity and public trust should not be dismissed because of electoral victory.
It further argued that criminal investigations and justice processes can be revisited where circumstances permit, noting that changes in leadership within the United States between 2023 and 2027 could provide an opportunity for law enforcement agencies to determine whether further action is necessary.
According to the Atiku Media Office, “The Office of the President is more than a mere political position. It is an office that mirrors the soul of the society it governs.”
It added that questions surrounding the President’s U.S. records should be addressed transparently in the interest of Nigeria’s international image.
The media office also urged President Tinubu to cooperate with any lawful process aimed at reviewing the matter instead of, in its words, relying on court actions or media statements to counter public concerns.
The statement concluded that renewed scrutiny of the issue would not undermine Nigeria’s democracy but would instead reinforce the principle that public office holders should remain accountable.
The Presidency has consistently rejected allegations of wrongdoing against President Tinubu, maintaining that the U.S. matter relates to a decades-old civil forfeiture proceeding rather than a criminal conviction.
It has repeatedly argued that the issue has been addressed publicly and has no legal bearing on Tinubu’s eligibility to hold public office in Nigeria.
