The Chicago State University (CSU) in a statement on Thursday, August 24, disclosed that it would release President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's academic records if a United States court grants the order.
The university asked the court to direct “only limited and targeted
discovery” of the information sought by the Presidential candidate of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
Recall that former vice president approached a US court for
the northern district of Illinois in Chicago, for an order compelling CSU to
release the academic records of Tinubu.
Tinubu’s credentials show that he graduated from CSU in 1979
with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, and
management.
However, there have been allegations bordering on discrepancies
with Tinubu’s certificate.
In the suit filed before the US district court, Abubakar
prayed that the court should subpoena Tinubu’s files domiciled with CSU.
Abubakar said the files will settle the controversy
surrounding Tinubu’s academic background and aid the election petition
tribunal.
The Chicago State University, in its response to Atiku’s
application, said it does not “understand” why Tinubu’s academic records “could
possibly have any bearing on a 2023 election challenge in a foreign country”.
CSU argued that some requests in the application are
“clearly inappropriate”, adding that the applicant is also seeking the
employment details of one of his former employees.
“Finally, in the event the Court determines to allow any
discovery to proceed here, the University urges the Court to direct only
limited, targeted discovery on the University,” CSU said in a response filed by
Michael Hayes, its counsel.
“As leave to issue any discovery has not yet been granted,
and the Court’s views on what if any discovery is appropriate here under 28
U.S.C. §1782 are not yet known, it is premature for the University to raise
objections to the scope of the documents and information sought in Abubakar’s
two subpoenas.
“But without limiting further objections, which the
University expressly reserves, the University notes that the scope and
relevancy of certain of Abubakar’s requests are clearly inappropriate.
“For example, Abubakar’s document subpoena Request No. 5
seeks information on diplomas issued by the University for a 44-year period
(1979 to the present), and Abubakar’s deposition subpoena Topic No. 7 seeks
information on the employment status and reasons for the departure of a former
employee in the University’s General Counsel’s Office.
“Following this Court’s ruling on the Application, should
any discovery be permitted, the University will meet and confer promptly and in
good faith with Abubakar’s counsel to attempt to address all the University’s
concerns.”
