How CSU Certificates Will Affect Tinubu's Case at Supreme Court, Top Lawyer Speaks

How CSU Certificates Will Affect Tinubu's Case at Supreme Court, Top Lawyer Speaks

  • President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented a forged degree certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when he filed his paperwork to lead Nigeria in June 2022, according to a lawyer, Kalu Kalu
  • The ongoing legal battle to oust the Nigerian leader for his alleged past misdeeds is getting fiercer
  • Speaking in an interview monitored by Legit.ng, a lawyer, Kalu Kalu, said contrary to the president's claim, Tinubu did not complete his education at the Chicago State University (CSU), USA

FCT, Abuja - A lawyer, Kalu Kalu, has said the certificate President Bola Tinubu submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not the document issued by the Chicago State University (CSU).

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday night, October 3, Kalu stated that the incumbent Nigerian leader did not finish from the CSU.

Read also

"We don’t have copy of certificate Tinubu submitted to INEC": Chicago University shares more details

Chicago State University/Tinubu certificate
President Tinubu continues to get a lot of stick over his academic records. Photo credits: Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chicago State University
Source: Facebook

Tinubu did not finish from CSU: Kalu

Tinubu and one of his political foes, Atiku Abubakar, are currently locked in a legal tussle over the authenticity of the former’s academic records.

Kalu said:

“Our law is very clear. If you present a forged certificate to the electoral umpire, that is INEC, you are not qualified to run. Section 137 (1J ).
“The document Tinubu presented to INEC, was it a certificate issued by the Chicago State University? And the answer is no. From what has been released.”

Asked if he thinks President Tinubu finished from the CSU, Kalu replied:

“He did not. It is very clear.”

The lawyer also said a petitioner can introduce a new matter or “fresh evidence” to his or her case when appealing at the Supreme Court. He added that President Tinubu should vacate the seat and hand over to the runner-up in the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Read also

Can release of Tinubu’s academic records by CSU affect Supreme Court verdict? Senior lawyers speak

APC chieftain speaks amid Tinubu’s certificate saga

In a piece of related news, Legit.ng reported that Adamu Garba, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), praised Tinubu for his “patience, resilience, and doggedness”.

Garba’s commendation comes amid a certificate controversy President Tinubu is currently embroiled.

Tinubu embarrassed Nigeria: Ezekwesili

Legit.ng also reported that a former minister of education, Oby Ezekwesili, said President Tinubu embarrassed Nigeria “by not instantly and voluntarily asking the Chicago State University to publish his academic credentials”.

Ezekwesili lamented that some Nigerian leaders “despise transparency” — which she posited, is not ideal.

Analyst speaks on alleged forgery

In another related news, Legit.ng reported that Segun Akinleye, a public affairs analyst, said the onus is on Chicago State University to swear under oath that it was the same certificate issued to Tinubu that the president presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Akinleye stated this in a chat with Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Ridwan Adeola avatar

Ridwan Adeola (Current Affairs Editor) Ridwan Adeola Yusuf is a content creator with more than nine years of experience, He is also a Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication from the Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State (2014). Ridwan previously worked at Africa Check, contributing to fact-checking research works within the organisation. He is an active member of the Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI). In March 2024, Ridwan completed the full Google News Initiative Lab workshop and his effort was recognised with a Certificate of Completion. Email: ridwan.adeola@corp.legit.ng.