In a significant development,
The Chicago State University, United States of America, has ultimately released the Academic records of President Bola Tinubu [/b]to former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.
.This release followed an order from a United States District Court in Northern District of Illinois, mandating the university to provide the documents to Atiku.
The court's decision came after dismissing President Tinubu's objection to the release of his academic record, with the judge ruling in favor of Atiku's application.
The judge's statement read: “For the foregoing reasons, the court overrules President Tinubu’s objections to Magistrate Judge Gilbert’s recommended ruling, and therefore, adopts the ruling in full.
“Mr Atiku’s Application is, therefore, granted. In light of the pending Supreme Court of Nigeria deadline, represented to the court as October 5, 2023, and based on CSU’s representations that it is ready to comply with the discovery requests and produce a witness, the court sets an expedited schedule for completion of discovery.
“Respondent CSU is directed to produce all relevant and non-privileged documents in response to Requests for Production Nos. 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. Given the October 5, 2023, filing deadline before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the court will not extend or modify these deadlines.”
The documents from CSU have gained widespread attention, and the university responded to Atiku’s four requests.
For instance, when Atiku sought "A true and correct copy of any diploma issued by CSU in 1979 to Mr Tinubu,” the US varsity explained, “CSU does not, in the ordinary course, keep copies of student diplomas, and after the diligent search cannot locate a copy of the original diploma it prepared for Mr Tinubu in 1979, hence, has no documents responsive to this request.”
Atiku's intention to use these academic records is part of his appeal at the Supreme Court, where he is challenging Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential election. However, Tinubu’s legal team has countered that the documents would be of no use at the Supreme Court.
