The legal teams of President Bola Tinubu and the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, are set to resume their legal battle over President Tinubu’s academic records from Chicago in a United States court on Monday.
This follows an agreement by US District Judge Nancy Maldonado to stay an order requiring Chicago State University to provide Tinubu’s academic documents to Atiku’s legal team.
The hearing occurred late on Thursday after the President’s lawyers filed an emergency motion requesting a delay in the enforcement of the order until Monday, taking into account legal deadlines in Nigeria.
Atiku is challenging President Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election, and he is seeking access to Tinubu’s academic records, including admission details, attendance dates, degrees, awards, and honors from the university.
Atiku’s camp insists that President Tinubu should be transparent about his academic records, while President Tinubu’s legal team is prepared for the upcoming legal proceedings.
The New Nigeria Peoples Party has called on President Tinubu to release his academic credentials to avoid further distraction and suspicion, and the campaign team of Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, also believes that President Tinubu should present his academic records to dispel doubts.
The dispute arose following allegations of discrepancies in President Tinubu’s academic record, even though he claims a clerical error caused the inconsistencies.
Magistrate Gilbert had ordered Chicago State University to release relevant academic records to Atiku despite President Tinubu’s opposition.
