In a recent legal twist, U.S. District Court Judge Orders Chicago State University to Release Academic Records in Bola Tinubu’s Election Battle.
In a pivotal development in the ongoing electoral dispute, Judge Jeffrey Gilbert of the U.S District Court, Northern District of Illinois, has issued a decisive order demanding that Chicago State University (CSU) release the academic records of President Bola Tinubu. The order has ignited fresh momentum in a contentious legal battle that could reshape the political landscape.
This ruling, handed down by the esteemed U.S. magistrate judge on Tuesday, mandates CSU to furnish “all relevant and non-privileged documents” to Abubakar Atiku, the plaintiff in this high-stakes case, within a mere two days. The urgency of this directive underscores the significance of the academic records in question.
Many view this as a significant victory for Atiku. However, Tinubu’s legal team has consistently argued that their client is unwilling to compromise his privacy privilege, and the ruling seems to concur by employing the term “non-privileged documents.”
CSU has already confirmed, in its deposition before the court, that Tinubu indeed attended the university and successfully graduated in 1979. However, the specific details contained within these academic records are being sought by Atiku to bolster his petition against Bola Tinubu’s election.
On the same day as this ruling, Atiku took another significant step in his quest for justice. He approached the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), which, on 6 September, upheld Tinubu’s election victory.
Atiku’s Notice of Appeal, which is based on 35 grounds, vehemently asserts that the tribunal, in its judgment, committed grave errors and miscarriages of justice in its findings and conclusions regarding the petition challenging INEC’s declaration of Tinubu as President.
Atiku’s lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, is fervently praying that the apex court sets aside the entire findings and conclusions of the tribunal, arguing that they do not accurately represent the essence of his petition.
The former Vice President argues that the tribunal erred in law by not nullifying the presidential election held on February 25. His claim centers on non-compliance with the Electoral Act of 2022, supported by evidence suggesting that INEC conducted the election based on significant and misleading misrepresentation, directly contradicting the principles of the Electoral Act 2022, under the “doctrine of legitimate expectation.”
Atiku further alleges that the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) failed to consider the Doctrine of Legitimate Expectation when INEC deviated from its own guidelines and the Electoral Act of 2022 in conducting the election, marking a potentially profound turning point in this legal saga.
