Atiku Abubakar has finally achieved what he sought after. Chicago State University (CSU) has unveiled President Bola Tinubu’s academic records, handing them over to Atiku’s team. This peculiar drama unfolded when Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2019 and 2023 elections, took a bold step. He went to a United States court in the Northern District of Illinois to demand CSU’s cooperation in releasing Tinubu’s academic history.
Atiku argued that these records could play a pivotal role in his legal challenge against President Tinubu’s election victory in the February 25th poll. His motive? To bolster his case that Tinubu may have forged a certificate from CSU in 1979, which he purportedly submitted to Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2023 presidential race.
The story took a turn on a recent Saturday when Justice Nancy Maldonado rendered her judgment. She ordered CSU to deliver the documents to Atiku’s camp by noon on Monday, promptly dismissing Tinubu’s objections. Maldonado upheld the earlier decision of Magistrate Judge Jeffery Gilbert, affirming Atiku’s right to access these records.
On Monday, CSU complied, handing over not only Tinubu’s academic records but also a treasure trove of documents related to his time at the institution. These records include copies of certificates issued to others around the same time as Tinubu’s alleged graduation in 1979, admission records, and a letter from June 27, 2022, confirming Tinubu’s attendance at the university from August 1977 to June 1979, with a major in accounting. The letter stated that Tinubu was awarded a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Honors on June 22, 1979.
The burning question now is, what’s next in this gripping saga? If you’re curious about the unfolding drama between Atiku and Tinubu, stay tuned to the Federal Character news blog for the latest updates. This real-life legal thriller is far from over.