The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has ordered Chicago State University (CSU) to release the credentials of President Bola Tinubu.
The order was given by the Presiding Judge, Honourable Nancy L. Maldonado in a judgment on Saturday on Atiku’s application.
In a memorandum opinion and order issued by the judge Nancy Maldonado, the court overruled Tinubu’s objections to the application filed by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, seeking the release of the president’s record with the university.
CSU to produce all relevant, non-privileged documents
The ruling from the court states,
- “In reaching this conclusion, the Court emphasizes that it is expressing no view on the merits of Mr. Abubakar’s underlying claims regarding President Tinubu or his graduation from CSU, or on the validity of the Nigerian election. Nor is the Court taking any position on what any of the documents or testimony from CSU may or may not ultimately show.
- “The Court simply finds, on the narrow question before it, that Mr. Abubakar is entitled to the production of documents and testimony that he seeks from CSU.
- “Respondent CSU is directed to produce all relevant and non−privileged documents in response to Requests for Production Nos. 1 through 4 (as narrowed by Judge Gilbert and adopted by the District Court in its opinion) in Mr. Abubakar’s subpoena, by 12:00 p.m. (noon) CDT, on Monday, October 2, 2023.
- “The Rule 30(b)(6) deposition of CSU’s corporate designee must be completed by 5:00 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.”
Court refuses to take position of authenticity of documents
On Atiku’s other prayers, the court said it will not take a position on the authenticity of the documents which President Tinubu submitted to INEC to contest election.
- The judge said:” The Court therefore finds that the “for use in” statutory requirement under § 1782 is satisfied.
- ”The Court reiterates, as mentioned at the outset, that in reaching this finding the Court is not taking a position on the merits of any of Mr. Abubakar’s underlying claims as to the authenticity of the diploma submitted to the INEC, President Tinubu’s education and graduation, or the truth of what is or is not shown in any other CSU documents that have been produced in the Nigerian proceedings. “Nor should the Court’s opinion be read as taking any position on any of the broader claims as to the validity of the election or what the documents and discovery from CSU might or might not show.
- ”The Court simply finds that Mr. Abubakar has cleared the relatively low hurdle of showing that the documents he seeks could be relevant to his claims (either proving them or disproving them) and could potentially be presented to the Supreme Court of Nigeria. “
What you should know
- Atiku had in August initiated the legal action seeking an order to compel the university to release Tinubu’s academic records.
- Although Tinubu’s credentials indicated that he graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, there have been allegations bordering on discrepancies in the President’s certificate.
- In the suit filed before the US district court, Abubakar prayed that the court should subpoena Tinubu’s files domiciled in the Chicago State University.
- A US magistrate Judge, Jeffrey Gilbert, had earlier in September granted the request filed by
- Atiku Abubakar, seeking the release of President Bola Tinubu’s academic records by the Chicago State University (CSU).
- The ruling was given by a US magistrate Judge, Jeffrey Gilbert, on Tuesday, ordering CSU to produce “all relevant and non-privileged documents” to Abubakar Atiku, the plaintiff, within 2 days.
- However, President Tinubu’s lawyers submitted an emergency motion to postpone the enforcement of the self-effectuating order that required CSU to comply with Atiku’s subpoenas until Monday.
- A member of the legal team clarified that their request was for a review and not an appeal, as misrepresented in the media.
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What is the import of the judgement? It will change nothing. Make wonna go rest, losers. Tinubu till 2031
Mr. Igban, if the disclosure of Tinubu’s University record will change nothing, why is he fighting to stop it? What’s the irreparable damage the unveiling of his record will cost him? Death? If it changes nothing, at least the world will know that the president of Nigeria is a crook & a certified drug peddler.
It’s in the public interest that the credentials of the president of the federation be published,why is blocking the release if it is a genuine document, Tinubu have something to hide and he is not going to get away with it,this guy is a criminal that have fooled Nigerians for too long and must be brought to justice.