U.S. Court Accelerates Subpoena Request for Bola Tinubu’s Academic Records in Atiku Abubakar’s Appeal.
Chicago, United States – In a recent development, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago has expedited the proceedings related to Atiku Abubakar’s request to subpoena Chicago State University (CSU) for President Bola Tinubu’s academic records.
This decision comes amid Abubakar’s tight deadline to appeal the judgment of the election petitions tribunal at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which hinges on the requested records.
Read Also Nigerian Newspapers Summary: 10 things You Need to Know Today, September 11, 2023
Originally scheduled for September 15, the in-person arguments of lawyers representing Mr. Abubakar, Mr. Tinubu, and CSU will now take place on September 12.
The court cited “exigent circumstances” in the court documents for this change, with Judge Jeffrey Gilbert emphasizing the need to expedite the case to account for the possibility of an appeal of the court’s ruling.
The court strongly advised all parties’ legal representatives to appear in person for the proceeding, although it allowed out-of-town counsel to attend via telephone if necessary.
Read Also Two PDP Rep Members Sacked for Forging Primary School Certificates, Election Declared Inconclusive
To prevent further delays, the court instructed CSU to file any objections to the scope of the requested records by 5:00 p.m. on September 11.
This revised deadline was set after CSU was initially given more time to file objections to the broadness of the subpoenas.
Atiku Abubakar’s urgent request for Tinubu’s academic records in the United States follows a panel of appellate justices dismissing petitions against the incumbent president.
Abubakar aims to use these records to file an appeal with Nigeria’s Supreme Court within 14 days, as clarified by Chris Uche, chief counsel for Abubakar and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Tinubu’s legal team has argued that the records are no longer critical due to the elapsed deadline for submitting evidence.
However, Abubakar’s lawyers cite a Supreme Court rule that allows the introduction of crucial evidence under special circumstances, which they believe the release of these records would constitute.
President Bola Tinubu, a prominent figure in Nigerian politics since the 1990s, has had aspects of his background shrouded in secrecy. This includes details such as his real name, parents, childhood neighborhood, primary and secondary education, among others.
His involvement in Chicago’s narcotics business in the 1990s has further added complexity to his public image, making the release of these academic records a matter of significant interest and scrutiny.
As the U.S. District Court accelerates its proceedings, the case’s outcome may have implications for the ongoing legal and political developments in Nigeria. Stay tuned for further updates as this story unfolds
