Atiku’s Lawsuit for Tinubu’s Records Thrown Out by US Court

In a recent development, a Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois County, United States of America, has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the general elections, seeking access to President Bola Tinubu’s academic records from Chicago State University (CSU).

During the 2022 election campaigns, Tinubu, a prominent Nigerian politician, claimed to hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with honors from CSU.

While Beverly Poindexter, who handles official transcript requests, enrollment, and degree verification at the Office of the Registrar, CSU, confirmed Tinubu’s statement, some individuals still raised doubts.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the petitioner in the case, sought to subpoena the university to obtain Tinubu’s academic records. However, before the scheduled date of the hearing, Atiku reportedly withdrew the case from the court.

According to the Circuit Court papers dated July 31, obtained by Sunday PUNCH on Saturday, Judge Patrick J. Heneghan dismissed the case without prejudice. The judge ruled that the “petitioner’s subpoena in this case is withdrawn and thus Chicago State University will not be deposed pursuant to the subpoena in this case.”

The dismissal of the case brings an end to all matters pending before the court. However, it highlights the attempts made by some individuals to access the President’s confidential educational records without proper due process.

In response to the lawsuit, a prominent business litigation attorney in Chicago, Mr. Victor Henderson, defended Tinubu’s standing as an alumnus of Chicago State University and a well-respected international figure in the US.

In a press statement dated August 2, 2023, Henderson stated, “Despite Tinubu’s prominence, Atiku Abubakar and a few of his followers have attempted to illegally access the President’s confidential educational records by filing an improper lawsuit without basic due process or even the simple decency of asking the President himself to release his records.”

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He further added, “The goal of Abubakar and others, of course, is to stain the President’s character and reputation and to try to steal an election that they lost. The good news for the President and his supporters is that the court dismissed the lawsuit that Abubakar improperly filed to get access to the President’s records.”

The legal battle over Tinubu’s academic records has garnered attention in Nigeria, where he is considered a prominent figure in politics. The dismissal of the case by the US court puts an end to the attempt to access his educational records through the legal system.