From: Nnanna Otu (Lagos Bureau Chief)
A Court in the United States has given President Bola Tinubu a deadline of August 23 to present a persuasive argument for why the Chicago State University should not be ordered to release his academic records to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar. The Court gave President Tinubu the deadline following Atiku Abubakar’s request.
Recall that Atiku, who had come second in the February 25 presidential election, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, had challenged Tinubu’s victory.
It was due to this that the PDP flag bearer filed a petition on July 11 to obtain further details of Tinubu’s academic records at the Chicago State University.
According to the Peoples Gazette, a court filing reveals that the August 23 deadline given to Tinubu to present his argument was imposed by a new magistrate judge assigned to the case at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago, Jeffrey Gilbert, on August 9.
The report notes that , the timeline shows the court is racing to rule on the matter before September 21, when Nigeria’s election petitions tribunal will likely deliver its judgment in the suit challenging Tinubu’s election victory.
Also, the platform disclosed that Atiku was given September 9 to respond to Tinubu’s anticipated argument.
Documents sought by Atiku, through his counsel, Angela M. Liu, include the record of his admission and acceptance at the university, dates of attendance, including degrees, awards, and honours attained by Tinubu at the university.
Atiku told the court that Tinubu’s subpoena was to test the truth and integrity of his assertions, adding that he is currently Nigeria’s President and facing various court proceedings concerning his election and the authenticity of documents relating to his attendance at Chicago State University.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu’s counsel, Victor P. Henderson, has filed a motion to prevent the institution from disclosing his client’s educational records.
Henderson told the court to strike it out because no judge of the court heard and granted Atiku the subpoena.
He argued that the petition was invalid for providing only six days for compliance, which was less than 14 days provided under Rules 219 and 137 of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules.
He said Atiku engaged in an “improper fishing expedition about a foreign public official utilising the Illinois court’s subpoena power.”
