US court rules in favour of Atiku, orders Chicago State University to release Bola Tinubu’s academic records

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The United States District court has ordered the Chicago State University, CSU, to provide all relevant and non-provileged documents of Nigeria’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu in response to a request made by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

This was contained in a judgement delivered in favour of the plaintiff, Atiku Abubakar by Judge Nancy Maldonado of the Northern disctrict of Illinois and dated Saturday, 30 September, 2023 according to Reportera.

Judge Nancy Maldonado

Judge Maldonado in her judgement, overruled President Tinubu’s objections to Atiku Abubakar’s plea before the court.

While Atiku had prayed the court to order the defendant, CSU to publish Tinubu’s academic records to prove claims that he (Tinubu) attended and graduated from the institution, the president prayed the court to restrict the CSU from publishing his credentials while also hindering his counterpart (Atiku) from further actions.

But the court held that Atiku Abubakar is entitled to the production of the documents and testimony that he seeks from the CSU.

The jury held that it is in no way, taking sides with any of the parties thereby, expressing no views on Atiku’s claims and challenges against President Tinubu and his graduation from CSU or the validity of Nigeria’s 2023 presidential elections result but finds validity in Atiku’s narrow question before it.

Judge Maldonado therefore, gave Monday 2nd October 2023 as deadline for CSU to provide all the documents being requested by the plaintiff.

The jury also noted that any request for stay of this judgement from Tinubu will be denied.

The judgement read:

“MINUTE entry before the Honorable Nancy L. Maldonado: 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]. In reaching this conclusion, the Court emphasizes that it is expressing no view on the merits of Mr. Abubakar’s underlying claims regarding President Tinubu or his graduation from CSU, or on the validity of the Nigerian election. Nor is the Court taking any position on what any of the documents or testimony from CSU may or may not ultimately show. The Court simply finds, on the narrow question before it, that Mr. Abubakar is entitled to the production of documents and testimony that he seeks from CSU. 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 DistrictCourt 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. Given the October 5, 2023 filing deadline before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the Court will not extend or modify these deadlines. Further,the Court notes that at the recent emergency hearing, the possibility of a stay pending an appeal to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals was raised. The Court cautions President Tinubu that any request for a stay before this Court will be denied, as the Court finds any stay impracticable in light of the fast approaching Supreme Court of Nigeria deadlines. President Tinubu is, of course, free to request a stay directly from the Seventh Circuit should he file any appeal. Judgment is entered in favor of Atiku Abubakar.(ca,).”