US Court approves Atiku’s request over Tinubu’s educational records

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has granted Atiku Abubakar’s request to release President Bola Tinubu’s academic records from Chicago State University (CSU).

The memorandum, signed by Jeffrey Gilbert, US magistrate judge, states:

“This matter is before the Court on Atiku Abubakar’s application under 28 U.S.C. § 1782 for an order directing discovery from Chicago State University for use in a foreign proceeding (“Application”) [ECF No. 1]. For the reasons discussed below, the application is granted.”

In August, the university had indicated its willingness to release Tinubu’s academic records if a US court granted the order.

The university requested the court to direct “only limited and targeted discovery” of the information sought by Atiku.

Atiku had approached the court to compel CSU to release the records.

Tinubu’s credentials indicate that he graduated from CSU in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, and management.

However, allegations of discrepancies with Tinubu’s certificate have surfaced.

In the suit filed before the US district court, Abubakar requested the court to subpoena Tinubu’s files held by CSU.

Abubakar argued that the files would settle the controversy surrounding Tinubu’s academic background.

The president, through his counsel, had filed a counter-application opposing the request for the release of his academic records.

The US court also ruled that it has jurisdiction to entertain the suit filed by the former vice president.

In the memorandum granting the request, the court said “The first intel factor weighs in favour of granting the application”.

The memorandum reads:

“The first discretionary factor looks to whether the person from whom discovery is sought is a participant in the foreign proceedings,” the statement reads.

“Intel, 542 U.S. at 264. The parties agree that CSU is not a party in the Nigerian proceedings and is beyond the jurisdictional reach of the Nigerian courts.

“Accordingly, the court finds that factor one weighs in favour of granting the application.

“Given the tight time frame under which the parties are operating, the deposition can, if necessary, occur on a non-weekday.

“It is so ordered.”

Earlier, Atiku lodged an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging the tribunal’s judgment that upheld Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 election.

“The parties can modify the dates set by the court by mutual agreement.