By Ade Martins-
A United States District Court has ordered Chicago State University (CSU) to release the academic records of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
The ruling, delivered by Judge Jeffrey Gilbert of the Northern District of Illinois on September 19, has significant implications for Nigeria’s political landscape, particularly as the country prepares for its 2023 presidential election.
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At the center of this legal battle is Atiku Abubakar, Nigeria’s former Vice President and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the upcoming election. Abubakar, often referred to simply as Atiku, is seeking access to Tinubu’s academic records at CSU through his lawyers in the United States.
The documents requested by Atiku’s legal team encompass a wide range of information, including records of Tinubu’s enrollment and admission to the university, dates of attendance, and any degrees or honors he may have received during his time at CSU.
On 2 August, Atiku filed an application requesting from the university the academic documents of Mr Tinubu. Atiku, a former vice president of Nigeria, is challenging the authenticity of the Chicago State University diploma Mr Tinubu presented to the INEC before the election.
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The former vice president argued that among other things, a “second Chicago State University diploma has since emerged (dated June 27, 1979) that bears the name “Bola Ahmed Tinubu” but also presents with a different font, punctuation, seal, and signatures, than the June 22, 1979 diploma, among other alleged discrepancies.”
Mr Atiku told the US that he wanted to authenticate these documents whether a “Chicago State University diploma in the name of Bola Ahmed Tinubu dated June 22, 1979, that was submitted to the INEC before the Nigerian presidential election in February 2023 is genuine or was forged.”
Probing Tinubu’s Claims
The core of Atiku’s argument revolves around investigating the accuracy and authenticity of Bola Tinubu’s academic claims. Tinubu, who currently holds the presidency of Nigeria, has faced a series of legal challenges regarding his election and the validity of documents that support his enrollment at CSU.
Atiku’s lawyers believe that accessing Tinubu’s academic records is essential to shed light on these controversies and ascertain the truth of the matter.
Bola Tinubu’s legal team has consistently argued against the release of his academic records, emphasizing his right to privacy. The court’s decision takes this into account by categorizing certain documents as “non-privileged.”
The legal wrangling has brought to focus the balance between transparency and an individual’s right to keep certain aspects of their life private, even for public figures.
CSU’s Stance and the Validity of Records
Chicago State University has repeatedly asserted that Bola Tinubu is indeed a graduate of their institution, defending his attendance and graduation in court. This stance, previously conveyed in a deposition before the court, adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing legal dispute.
The international implications of this case are hard to ignore. Atiku’s request for Tinubu’s academic records from an American university reflects the interconnectedness of modern politics and the increasing scrutiny public figures face.
Court Ruling Follows Controversial Election Court Verdict
It is worth noting that the US court’s ruling comes on the heels of a controversial election verdict in Nigeria.
Just last week, a court in Nigeria upheld the election victory of Bola Tinubu, despite persistent claims by many of his critics that the election was influenced by corruption and irregularities.
The ruling by the High Court judge in Nigeria that dismissed the contention against Tinubu’s presidency has also been questioned and branded corrupt by his opponents, but many of Tinubu’s supporters believe he has the experience and business acumen for the top job, and prefer him to his political rivals.
This juxtaposition of legal decisions on opposite sides of the Atlantic amplifies the intensity and complexity of the political landscape in Nigeria.
The former governor of Lagos State who is stupendously wealthy is highly regarded as a godfather in many circles where he has in past times established the political careers of many.
His political opponents are determined to fight his election position and discredit him as a man not eligible to participate in the country’s last national elections let alone to lead Nigeria.
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