Supreme Court: Atiku Files Fresh Evidence Alleging Forgery of Tinubu’s Diploma Certificate

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has taken his challenge to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, introducing new evidence in an attempt to discredit the qualifications of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the February 25, 2023 presidential election.

Atiku’s legal team, led by Chris Uche SAN, submitted the fresh evidence asserting that the Diploma Certificate from the Chicago State University (CSU), which Tinubu presented to qualify for the election, is allegedly forged. The motion filed by Atiku calls on the Supreme Court to utilize its Order 2 Rule 12 of 1985 to admit this evidence of certificate forgery and perjury to ensure justice in his case.

The respondents named in the motion include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The grounds of the motion rest on the release of Tinubu’s academic records, evidence from the Registrar of the Chicago State University before a United States court, and the deposition of the same witness regarding the Diploma Certificate submitted to INEC by President Tinubu.

This legal battle raises significant constitutional questions, as it concerns the alleged presentation of a forged certificate to INEC by a presidential candidate, making it a matter of utmost importance for the Supreme Court.

Although no date has been set for the hearing of the motion, this development has injected fresh uncertainty and intrigue into the ongoing legal battle surrounding the 2023 presidential election results.