US court rules in favour of Atiku, orders Chicago State University to release Bola Tinubu’s academic records

In response to a request made by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the United States District court has ordered the Chicago State University, CSU, to release every relevant and guarded records of Nigeria’s president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

This was stated in a decision rendered on Saturday, September 30, 2023, in favor of the the complainant, Atiku Abubakar, by Judge Nancy Maldonado of the Northern District of Illinois, according to Reportera.

In her ruling, Judge Maldonado disregarded President Tinubu’s objections to Atiku Abubakar’s court appearance.

The president asked the court to prevent the CSU from publishing Tinubu’s academic records while also preventing his opponent (Atiku) from taking further action.

Atiku had asked the court to order the defendant, CSU, to publish Tinubu’s academic records to prove claims that he (Tinubu) attended and graduated from the institution.

However, the court decided that Atiku Abubakar has a right to the papers and testimony that he demands the CSU produce.

The jury declared that it is not, in any way, siding with any of the parties, and as a result, it has no opinion on Atiku’s allegations and challenges against President Tinubu, his graduation from CSU, or the legitimacy of the outcome of Nigeria’s 2023 presidential elections.

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Instead, the jury finds that Atiku’s specific question is valid.

As a result, CSU has until Monday, October 2, 2023, to submit all the papers that the plaintiff has sought.

The jury also stated that Tinubu’s plea for a stay of this judgment would be rejected.

The judgement read:

“MINUTE entry before the Honorable Nancy L. Maldonado: For the reasons stated in the Court’s accompanying Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Court overrules President Tinubu’s objections [44] and adopts Judge Gilbert’s recommended decision [40]in full. The Court therefore grants Mr. Abubakar’s application under 28 U.S.C. § 1782.[1]. In reaching this conclusion, the Court emphasizes that it is expressing no view on the merits of Mr. Abubakar’s underlying claims regarding President Tinubu or his graduation from CSU, or on the validity of the Nigerian election. Nor is the Court taking any position on what any of the documents or testimony from CSU may or may not ultimately show. The Court simply finds, on the narrow question before it, that Mr. Abubakar is entitled to the production of documents and testimony that he seeks from CSU. Respondent CSU is directed to produce all relevant and non-privileged documents in response to Requests for production Nos. 1 through 4 (as narrowed by Judge Gilbert and adopted by the DistrictCourt in its opinion) in Mr. Abubakar’s subpoena, by 12:00 p.m. (noon) CDT, on Monday,October 2,2023. The Rule 30(b)(6) deposition of CSU’s corporate designee must be completed by 5:00 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. Given the October 5, 2023 filing deadline before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the Court will not extend or modify these deadlines. Further,the Court notes that at the recent emergency hearing, the possibility of a stay pending an appeal to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals was raised. The Court cautions President Tinubu that any request for a stay before this Court will be denied, as the Court finds any stay impracticable in light of the fast approaching Supreme Court of Nigeria deadlines. President Tinubu is, of course, free to request a stay directly from the Seventh Circuit should he file any appeal. Judgment is entered in favor of Atiku Abubakar.(ca,).”