Documents: GEJ Government’s Attempt to Prosecute Bola Tinubu for Fake Academic Claims Resurfaces Online Amid New Allegations

In a stunning turn of events, old documents have resurfaced, revealing that former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration once attempted to charge Bola Tinubu, a prominent politician, for allegedly submitting fake academic claims to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) back in 1999. This revelation comes amidst a recent legal battle initiated by Tinubu’s political rival, Atiku Abubakar, over another set of alleged forgeries related to Tinubu’s academic qualifications.

The past has come back to haunt Bola Tinubu, who has long been a polarizing figure in Nigerian politics. The documents obtained by the Peoples Gazette shed light on an earlier attempt to hold Tinubu accountable for perjury, dating back to the late 1990s when he first entered the political scene as Lagos State governor.

The controversy began when human rights activist Gani Fawehinmi raised concerns about Tinubu’s sworn affidavit, which claimed he had obtained a degree in economics from the University of Chicago in 1976. According to the affidavit, Tinubu attended several educational institutions, including the University of Chicago, Richard Daley College, and Chicago State University. It also stated that he became a certified public accountant and worked for renowned firms before entering politics.

However, investigations into these claims found that Tinubu had lied about his educational history. The University of Chicago had no record of his attendance, and his credentials were debunked. Additionally, Tinubu’s alleged enrollment at Government College, Ibadan, and other schools raised suspicions.

Despite these revelations, Tinubu’s position as a sitting governor at the time afforded him constitutional immunity under Section 308 of the Nigerian Constitution, protecting him from criminal prosecution. His alma mater, Government College, Ibadan, even disowned him after confirming he had never been a student there.

The controversy lay dormant until 2011 when former Attorney General Bello Adoke revived the case, filing charges against Tinubu for false statements made on his INEC CF001 governorship form, alleging that Tinubu had falsely claimed to have attended Government College, Ibadan, between 1962 and 1965. However, just days later, Adoke requested the court to strike out the charges, citing the intention to file the case in another court. This claim turned out to be untrue, and the charges were never refiled.

There are documents confirming that the Jonathan administration initiated the case against Tinubu but later withdrew it. The circumstances surrounding the withdrawal remain unclear, and Adoke has stated that he did not authorize the initial filing and that President Jonathan never approved the charges.

The resurfacing of this controversy is particularly significant, given Atiku Abubakar’s recent legal challenge regarding Tinubu’s academic certificate submitted to INEC for the 2023 presidential election. Abubakar has presented evidence obtained through a federal court subpoena in the United States, which raises questions about the authenticity of Tinubu’s academic qualifications. Section 137 (1)(j) of the Nigerian Constitution stipulates that presenting a forged certificate to INEC disqualifies a candidate from being legitimately elected as president.

If Abubakar’s evidence is accepted by the Nigerian Supreme Court, and Tinubu’s presidency is invalidated, it could result in one of the shortest elected governments in Nigeria’s history, lasting only six months.

As this unfolding drama continues to captivate the nation, Nigerians await further developments in the legal battle that could reshape the country’s political landscape. Tinubu’s aides and supporters have already launched a defense, arguing over the authenticity of his academic credentials and the significance of his transcript. The outcome of this legal battle will undoubtedly have far-reaching consequences for Nigerian politics.

Credit: Peoples Gazette