In a surprising turn of events, a United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has granted the request of Atiku Abubakar, a former Nigerian presidential candidate from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to obtain the academic records of President Bola Tinubu from Chicago State University (CSU).
The ruling, delivered by Judge Jeffrey Gilbert, allows Atiku Abubakar access to "all relevant and non-privileged documents" pertaining to Tinubu's academic history within two days. The court's decision specified "non-privileged documents," indicating that President Tinubu's privacy privilege will not be lifted.
Atiku Abubakar's legal team filed the request under 28 U.S.C. § 1782, seeking access to President Tinubu's educational records, including his diploma from CSU. Although Tinubu's credentials indicate he graduated in 1979 with a bachelor's degree in accounting, there have been allegations of discrepancies in his academic background.
These records have become a focal point in Nigerian politics, as allegations of a forged diploma have arisen in connection with President Tinubu's educational qualifications. Under Nigerian law, submitting fraudulent documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could disqualify a candidate from participating in elections.
Atiku Abubakar's application was initially filed while his petition challenging the presidential election results was pending before the Nigerian Court of Appeal. Although the Presidential Tribunal ruled in favor of President Tinubu, Abubakar has indicated his intention to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The US court's decision raises questions about the potential impact of President Tinubu's academic records on Nigerian politics and electoral integrity.
