Atiku’s lawyers receive Tinubu’s Chicago University documents

The Chicago State University (CSU) handed over President Bola Tinubu’s academic records to lawyers representing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, on Monday.

David Hundeyin, an independent journalist who has covered the matter extensively, posted on his X that the documents of the university have been officially handed over to Atiku Abubakar’s lawyers.

Nancy Maldonado, the U.S. District Judge, canceled oral argument and presentation and ordered the Chicago State University @ChicagoState to honour Magistrate Judge, Gilbert’s orders to release Tinubu’s academic records to @atiku within 48 hours.

“The Court will endeavor to issue a written ruling as soon as possible.”

Read also: Chicago State University ordered to release Tinubu’s results following Atiku suit

“The Court notes that Court staff has received extensive email communications from members of the public related to this case. The Court understands the significant public interest in this dispute, but the Court will not consider any third-party or ex parte submissions. Rather, the court’s review will be limited to the parties’ briefing and the official record on the docket” said Judge Nancy Maldonado.

But Hundeyin, while providing more details, said “We have received the documents from CSU, adding that “deposition will follow tomorrow. Meanwhile, our lawyers are sorting them out, one after the other”.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had filed his application under 28 U.S.C. § 1782 on August 2, 2023, and the Court referred the matter to Magistrate Judge Gilbert for resolution,,but President Tinubu filed a motion to intervene in the action, which Abubakar did not oppose, and which this Court granted.

Pedro Obaseki, Director of Research and Documentation of the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Campaign Organization, had recently declared that Atiku Abubakar was interested in exposing the President’s past records.

Read also: Chicago State University says Tinubu graduated in1979

He stated that the former Vice President’s insistence on open disclosure of President Bola Tinubu’s Chicago State University credentials is to expose the president’s shady past at the Supreme Court.

The former Vice President and the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) had recently appealed against the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which dismissed his case against President Tinubu’s declarations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Obaseki who dismissed the President’s claims that the public disclosure of his CSU documents would cause irreparable damage to him, said “Nigerians would be more shocked to know that the owner of the certificate in question is a woman”.

According to Obaseki, “Nigerians will be more demoralised that the owner of the certificate that President Tinubu is parading is a woman. We already know it as a fact, but we are seeking the release of the documents officially by CSU.”

The PDP official opined that the outcome will give many Nigerians more heart attacks, but added that “ the outcome will strengthen Atiku’s case at the Supreme Court”.

“Atiku is seeking an open disclose of Tinubu’s CSU documents because it is believed that the Supreme Court of Nigeria may be compelled to listen to fresh evidence in the petitions already submitted to it.

“Even when the court of first instance and the appellate court have convicted someone to death and minutes before the supreme court gives its final judgment and there arose fresh and compelling facts and evidence, the apex court is bound to listen to the fresh facts before making its final judgment.