Reps Member Slams Atiku Over Efforts To Expose Tinubu’s US FBI Records

A member of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has criticised former vice-president and  presidential candidate of African Action Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, over efforts by a Washington-based lobbying firm engaged by him to draw attention to US government records relating to President Bola Tinubu.

Agbese, the deputy spokesperson of the House, described the move as an attempt to export Nigeria’s political contest to foreign institutions. 

He, however, warned that such actions could have consequences for Nigerians living and doing business abroad.

The Benue lawmaker spoke on Wednesday evening in Abuja while reacting to activities of Von Batten-Montague-York, a US lobbying firm engaged by Atiku.

Politics Nigeria reports that Atiku hired the firm in March to protect and strengthen his “reputational standing” in the United States.

In July, the lobbying firm disclosed that it had begun presenting members of the Donald Trump administration, Congress and senior congressional staff with US Department of Justice records concerning allegations of drug trafficking involving Tinubu.

The firm said it intended to bring the documents, including DOJ court filings, an affidavit and related federal court decisions, to the attention of Trump.

The development followed ongoing litigation in a US court over access to records relating to investigations allegedly involving Tinubu.

In late August, Tinubu, who had joined the case as an intervenor, asked the court to dismiss a motion seeking the release of additional records.

The President argued that some of the information was protected under privacy provisions of US law and urged the court to allow the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to maintain existing redactions and withholdings.

Reacting, Agbese said opposition politicians had a legitimate right to challenge Tinubu’s policies and performance but should not do so in a manner that could damage Nigeria’s reputation internationally.

“This has gone beyond politics. When desperate politicians begin to export their political battles and package Nigeria as a country whose leadership is allegedly built around criminality, they are not hurting President Tinubu alone,” he said.

According to the lawmaker, portraying Nigeria negatively before foreign governments could affect ordinary citizens who depend on international opportunities.

He cited Nigerian students seeking admission abroad, entrepreneurs pursuing foreign partnerships, professionals searching for employment and citizens travelling for business or other purposes as potential victims of such campaigns.

Agbese argued that domestic political disagreements should be resolved through Nigeria’s democratic and judicial institutions rather than by seeking the intervention of foreign governments.

“Political competition is legitimate, but there must be a line that every responsible politician must refuse to cross,” he said.

The lawmaker further urged the Trump administration to scrutinise the motives of individuals presenting themselves as advocates for Nigeria in Washington.

He said the relationship between Nigeria and the United States should focus on areas such as security, trade, investment and development rather than political campaigns aimed at influencing Washington against Nigeria.

“America and Nigeria have a relationship that is far bigger than the ambitions of desperate politicians,” Agbese said.

He warned that the consequences of damaging Nigeria’s international image could extend beyond the immediate political dispute, potentially affecting business relationships, immigration decisions, investment opportunities and how Nigerians are treated abroad.

Agbese also cautioned political actors against making Nigeria’s reputation “collateral damage” in the 2027 political contest.

He maintained that Nigerians, rather than foreign governments, should determine who leads the country.

“If anybody believes the President has failed, take that argument to the Nigerian people and let the ballot determine it,” he said.

“Do not outsource our democracy to Washington, London or anywhere else. Nigeria belongs to Nigerians, and our political battles must not become a source of hardship or embarrassment for our people at home and abroad.”