5 Reasons Tinubu Does Not Want Chicago University To Hand Over Academic Records to Atiku

5 Reasons Tinubu Does Not Want Chicago University To Hand Over Academic Records to Atiku

  • President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has continued his relentless effort to block any attempt to release his academic records at the Chicago State University (CSU)
  • Through his legal representative, President Tinubu rolled out five reasons why his academic records should remain classified in his appeal to the US court
  • Before his appeal, the US court had ruled in favour of his rival, Atiku Abubakar, for his academic records to be released within 48 hours

FCT, Abuja - President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's legal battle with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has reached a fever pitch.

Atiku is challenging Tinubu over the authenticity of his academic records at the Chicago State University (CSU), where he claimed to have graduated in 1979.

Tinubu, Atiku, CSU
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu filed an appeal to block the release of his academic records. Photo Credit: Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Source: Facebook

Last week, Atiku got a favourable ruling from a US court in Illinois ordering the CSU to release the academic records of Tinubu to Atiku.

Read also

Chicago University Saga: 4 documents Atiku planning to use to get Tinubu sacked by Supreme Court

However, Tinubu has filed an appeal before the court to block Atiku from getting a hold on his academic records.

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy!

In this short article, we'll highlight five reasons Tinubu wants to avoid Atiku possessing his academic records.

1. Irrelevancy in court

President Tinubu's legal representatives have always maintained that the availability of their client's academic records at the CSU is irrelevant in court.

This is because his academic records have rarely been accepted in court as evidence in the past.

According to Premium Times, Tinubu's New York-based lawyer, Oluwole Afolabi, said:

“the Nigerian election proceedings and the Nigerian courts have explicitly been unreceptive to the discovery.”

2. Invasion of Privacy

President Tinubu finds the relentless request for his academic records invasive and intrusive.

Read also

APC chieftain reacts as US court orders CSU to release Tinubu’s records to Atiku: “Ajasco dance”

Tinubu's legal attorney said:

“Atiku’s request is unduly intrusive because it allows Applicant (Atiku) to conduct a fishing expedition into Intervenor’s private, confidential, and protected educational records.”

3. Past Misuse of Records

In Tinubu's appeal, he told the US Court that his political archrivals had used his academic records to attack him.

He said they unlawfully obtained his academic records and used them to attack him during political campaigns.

4. Not required for foreign cases

As reported by Punch, Tinubu's appeal asked the court to set aside Atiku's request for his academic records because it lacks relevance in a foreign proceeding.

He said:

“Even if a narrow subset of information can be considered ‘for use’ in the foreign proceeding, that is limited to the diploma submitted to INEC. Fishing expeditions into other documents and more document productions must be precluded.”

5. Fishing Expedition

Meanwhile, Tinubu's legal representative argued that the application of Atiku only requested Tinubu's CSU diploma.

Read also

Independence of American judiciary cost Tinubu in US court, says Atiku

However, the court's ruling went beyond that by ordering the release of other academic records.

Man reveals what he found after searching Tinubu’s records in US database

Meanwhile, there are alleged disparities over the real identity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu since he resumed the helm of affairs.

Some of the president's critics allege that he formerly bore the name Amoda Sangodele while residing in the US.

However, a Nigerian Twitter user, @ReneRodrig1142, said he searched the US database for the name "Amoda Sangodele" and revealed what he found.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Segun Adeyemi avatar

Segun Adeyemi (Current Affairs and Politics Editor) Segun Adeyemi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience as an active field reporter, editor, and editorial manager. He has had stints with Daily Trust newspaper, Daily Nigerian, and News Digest. He currently works as an editor for Legit.ng's current affairs and politics desk. He holds a degree in Mass Communication (Adekunle Ajasin University). He is a certified digital reporter by Reuters, AFP and the co-convener of the annual campus journalism awards. Email: segun.adeyemi@corp.legit.ng.