US Court Grants Atiku’s Application, Orders Chicago University to Release Tinubu’s Academic Records

A United States court sitting in Chicago has ordered the Chicago State University (CSU) to hand over all records relating to Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu’s studentship of the school to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar within two days.

The ruling was delivered on Tuesday following an application filed by Atiku, seeking the documents to prove that Tinubu was not eligible to vie for the presidential election when he did.

The court held that the former vice president has been able to sufficiently satisfy the purpose for seeking the records.

Atiku ran against Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Gilbert of the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, who gave the ruling, also ordered a deposition of designated university officials within two days after the records had been released.

The judge noted further that the process could be conducted during the weekend if necessary.

“For all of the reasons discussed above, Atiku Abubakar’s application pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1782 for an order directing discovery from Chicago State University for use in a foreign proceeding [ECF No. 1] is granted,” Mr Gilbert ruled.

“Respondent CSU shall produce all relevant and non-privileged documents in response to requests for production Nos. 1 through 4 (as narrowed by the court) in applicant subpoena within two days of the entry of this memorandum opinion and order.”

“The deposition of respondent’s corporate designee shall proceed within two days of the production of documents,” the court added.

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