Chicago Varsity Saga: Keyamo Reveals What Atiku Must Do to Prove Tinubu Forged Certificate

Chicago Varsity Saga: Keyamo Reveals What Atiku Must Do to Prove Tinubu Forged Certificate

  • Aviation minister Festus Keyamo has said Atiku cannot prove the certificate forgery allegations against President Bola Tinubu unless the vendor who issued the replacement certificate denies its authenticity
  • Keyamo stressed that the burden of proof lies with the accuser and suggested that Atiku must find and present the vendor who issued the replacement certificate to validate his claims
  • Additionally, Keyamo characterised Atiku's recent speech at his press briefing as a valedictory address, suggesting that it signifies his retirement from politics

FCT, Abuja - Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation and aerospace development, has said the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, cannot prove certificate forgery against President Bola Tinubu unless the vendor who issued the replacement certificate denies the document.

President Tinubu's certificate has been a subject of controversy as his rivals in the 2023 elections look for ways to get him sacked by the court.

Read also

Atiku seeks Supreme Court’s approval to present CSU documents against Tinubu: “Fresh evidence”

Chicago State University Certificate Saga/Atiku, Tinubu and Keyamo
Festus Keyamo, minister of aviation, speaks on why Atiku cannot prove certificate forgery against President Tinubu. Photo credits: @atiku, @officialABAT, @fkeyamo
Source: Twitter

The Nigerian leader obtained his certificate from Chicago State University (CSU) upon graduating from the institution.

The registrar of CSU, Caleb Westberg, stated in a deposition that replacement certificates are issued, and the one obtained by the president in 1997 matches the university's format.

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Atiku who was the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) filed a case in the US seeking President Tinubu's academic records, alleging that he forged his academic certificate.

He is also appealing the presidential election petitions tribunal verdict affirming Tinubu's victory and is seeking to introduce the president's records as new evidence.

He who alleges must prove, says Keyamo

Commenting on the development via a post on X on Sunday, October 8, Keyamo said Atiku must find the vendor who issued the replacement certificate to find out if it is genuine or not.

Read also

"It is national disgrace": Lawyer speaks on danger of Atiku, Tinubu's certificate forgery allegation

He said Atiku's claim of forgery is "useless" until the vendor that issued the replacement certificate to Tinubu denies its authenticity.

“And it is the duty of the accuser to fish out the said vendor and get that evidence. It is not the other way round. He who alleges must prove.
“This is the simple principle I laid down in 2019 during our defence of President Buhari that has been so mischievously celebrated as if they have hit the bull’s eye," the senior lawyer said.

Atiku is retiring from politics, says Keyamo

On Thursday, October 5, Atiku held a World Press Conference where he talked about his lawyers' findings from Tinubu's academic records released to them.

However, Keyamo described Atiku's speech at the conference as a valedictory speech, saying it signified that he was retiring from politics.

Atiku files fresh 'evidence' of forgery against Tinubu

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Atiku filed fresh 'evidence' of forgery against President Tinubu.

Read also

Atiku's aide alleges plot by Tinubu's govt to gag media ahead of release of FBI files

According to a statement on Saturday, October 7, by Phrank Shaibu, an aide on communications to the PDP candidate, Atiku claimed that the diploma (certificate) of the Chicago State University (CSU) used by Tinubu which the president submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before or to the 2023 general election, is fake.

He insisted that the document was forged.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Nurudeen Lawal avatar

Nurudeen Lawal (Head of Politics and Current Affairs Desk) Nurudeen Lawal is an AFP-certified journalist with a wealth of experience spanning over 8 years. He received his B/Arts degree in Literature-in-English from OAU. Lawal is the Head of the Politics/CA Desk at Legit.ng, where he applies his expertise to provide incisive coverage of events. He was named the Political Desk Head of the Year (Nigeria Media Nite-Out Award 2023). He is also a certified fact-checker (Dubawa fellowship, 2020). Contact him at lawal.nurudeen@corp.legit.ng or +2347057737768.