Tinubu Challenges US Court Order To Release Records, Files Fresh Objection
Tinubu Fights Back Against Atiku’s Bid to Access His US Academic Records
President Bola Tinubu has challenged a US court order that would compel Chicago State University (CSU) to release his academic records to his main rival in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar.
Tinubu, who won the election by a narrow margin, has been accused by Atiku of forging his CSU diploma that he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the election. Atiku, who is contesting the election result at the Nigerian Election Court, filed an application in a US district court in August, seeking access to Tinubu’s academic records from CSU to verify the authenticity of his diploma.
However, Tinubu’s lawyers have filed a detailed objection to the US court order, arguing that his academic records are irrelevant and intrusive. They claimed that the Nigerian Election Court and the Nigerian courts have explicitly rejected the use of foreign discovery in the election proceedings. They also alleged that Tinubu’s political opponents have previously obtained his academic records illegally and used them to attack him.
The US court order was issued by Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Gilbert on September 19, who ordered CSU to release Tinubu’s academic records to Atiku within two days. Gilbert granted Atiku’s application despite Tinubu’s opposition, saying that he had shown a “substantial need” for the discovery and that it was “for use” in the Nigerian election case.
Tinubu’s legal team then appealed to a district judge of the court, Nancy Maldonado, to suspend the order and allow them to file a more elaborate challenge. Maldonado agreed to delay the order at an emergency hearing on September 21. Following the approval, Tinubu’s lawyers filed their objection on Monday.
In their objection, Tinubu’s lawyers argued that Gilbert had erred in granting Atiku’s application, as he had ignored the decision of the Nigerian Election Court that barred Atiku from attempting to use foreign discovery in the election case. They also argued that Gilbert had exceeded the scope of Atiku’s request, which only focused on Tinubu’s CSU diploma, by ordering CSU to release other educational documents as well.
Tinubu’s lawyers contended that Tinubu would suffer harm if his academic records were released, as they would expose him to further attacks and conspiracy theories from his opponents. They described Atiku’s application as mere “opposition research on a political opponent” and urged the court to set aside Gilbert’s order.
The US district court has not yet ruled on Tinubu’s objection. The Nigerian Election Court is expected to deliver its judgment on the election dispute soon.
