US court orders Chicago State University to release Tinubu’s academic records to Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has obtained the academic records of President Bola Tinubu from Chicago State University (CSU) in the United States. The documents were released to Atiku on Monday, October 2, 2023, following a court order by a US district judge, Nancy Maldonado.

Atiku had requested the documents to support his allegation of forgery of the CSU certificate against President Tinubu, who graduated from the university in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Atiku intends to use the documents in his appeal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, where he is challenging Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential election.

According to the CSU documents, which went viral on social media, the university produced four sets of documents in response to Atiku’s requests. These include:

• Seven different certificates for the Bachelor of Science degree issued to Tinubu in 1979 were certified by an official of CSU, Jamar C. Orr, a lawyer.
• Documents relating to Tinubu’s admission, enrollment, and graduation from CSU, including transcripts, application forms, and letters of recommendation
• Copies of three other diploma certificates issued to other students other than Tinubu in 1979 for comparison purposes.
• A statement that the university could not locate a copy of the original diploma it prepared for Tinubu in 1979, as requested by Atiku

The US court had overruled President Tinubu’s objections to the release of his academic records and set an expedited schedule for the completion of discovery, given the October 5, 2023, deadline before the Supreme Court of Nigeria. The court also directed CSU to produce a witness to testify on the authenticity of the documents.

President Tinubu’s legal team has argued that the documents are irrelevant and inadmissible at the Supreme Court and that Atiku’s appeal is baseless and frivolous. They have also accused Atiku of engaging in a smear campaign against the president and violating his privacy rights.

However, Atiku’s legal team has maintained that the documents are vital and valid evidence to prove that President Tinubu falsified his academic credentials and lied under oath. They have also claimed that Tinubu’s certificate scandal is a matter of public interest and national security.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear Atiku’s appeal on October 5, 2023, and deliver its judgement on the presidential election dispute. The outcome of the case could have far-reaching implications for the political future of Nigeria.