Major Win for Atiku As US Court Orders Chicago State University To Release Tinubu’s Credentials

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has ordered Chicago State University to release the credentials of President Bola Tinubu.

The presiding judge, Nancy Maldonado, dismissed 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.

Recall that Atiku, the presidential candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had approached the US District Court in Northern Illinois to compel Chicago university to release Tinubu’s academic records, arguing that it would boost his suit challenging the President’s election in the February 25 presidential poll.

He requested the documents for use in Nigerian courts to support his argument that Tinubu forged a certificate he claimed to have obtained from CSU in 1979 and submitted to Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for the 2023 presidential election.

Meanwhile, Tinubu filled a counter application urging Chicago University to hide his gender and record from Atiku.

Judge Nancy has however issued a two-day ultimatum to CSU to release the documents to Atiku.

The court also cautioned Bola Tinubu that no further request for a stay will be granted before this court.

The court order must be carried out before 5pm CDT on Wednesday, 3rd of October 2023, considering the Nigerian Supreme Court filing deadline of October 5th 2023.

Judge Nancy also upheld the September 20 ruling of US Magistrate Judge, Jeffery Gilbert, who ordered the CSU to release Tinubu’s academic records as requested by Atiku, stressing that the PDP candidate Atiku had the right to have access to the records.

“For the reasons stated in the Court’s accompanying Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Court overrules President Tinubu’s objections (44] and adopts Judge Gilbert’s recommended decision [40] in full.

“The Court therefore grants Mr. Abubakar’s application under 28 U.S.C. § 1782. [1],” Justice Maldonado of the Northern District of Illinois ruled.

According to the judge, CSU must complete all necessary filings regarding the release by 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

The court ruled, “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.”