In a recent development, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, has asserted its jurisdiction over the case brought forward by Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 Nigerian election. Atiku’s petition seeks to compel Chicago State University (CSU) to release the academic records of President Bola Tinubu, as reported by the Political Economist.
The court, referencing US law, has authorized “interested persons” to request the discovery of documents and testimonies from entities within its jurisdiction for use in foreign proceedings. In this context, Atiku Abubakar qualifies as an “interested person,” while CSU is a public university under the laws of Illinois, with its main campus located in Chicago.
The court documents highlight that Atiku Abubakar has met all the statutory prerequisites and, therefore, the court is inclined to grant his request. The court’s decision appears to be a stepping stone toward resolving the matter in question.
This case stems from the backdrop of the 2023 Nigerian presidential election, in which President Bola Tinubu, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), emerged as a candidate. The controversy surrounding Tinubu’s academic records, certificate forgery, and discrepancies in submitted documents led to a legal challenge initiated by Mr. Mike Enahoro-Ebah, an Abuja-based lawyer.
Mr. Enahoro-Ebah’s lawsuit filed in the Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja, alleged that Tinubu provided false information, forged documents, and misrepresented facts in his qualification filing with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Central to the lawsuit are two CSU diplomas, dated June 22 and June 27, 1979, respectively.
The lawsuit further reveals that CSU’s Registrar, Mr. Caleb Westberg, responded to a subpoena by providing records to Mr. Enahoro-Ebah. However, discrepancies between the documents obtained through the subpoena and those submitted to INEC raised concerns about their authenticity.
The court’s intervention and assumption of jurisdiction signify a critical step in determining the veracity of the academic records, allegations, and qualifications at the heart of the legal dispute. The timeline set by the court suggests an expeditious resolution, aimed at delivering a verdict before Nigeria’s election petitions tribunal announces its judgment regarding the presidential election outcome.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Atiku Abubakar and President Bola Tinubu remain central figures in a high-stakes legal battle that could potentially impact the political landscape of Nigeria. SK Blog will continue to closely follow this case and provide updates as they unfold.
