In a recent development, Presiding Judge Nancy Maldonado has dismissed objections raised by Tinubu and issued a two-day ultimatum to Chicago State University (CSU) to release certain documents to Atiku Abubakar. Judge Maldonado has also upheld the ruling made on September 20 by US Magistrate Judge Jeffery Gilbert, who had ordered CSU to provide Atiku with access to Tinubu's academic records. The judge emphasized that Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had a legitimate right to obtain these records.
Judge Maldonado stated, "The Court overrules President Tinubu’s objections and adopts Judge Gilbert’s recommended decision in full." Consequently, the Court granted Mr. Abubakar's application under 28 U.S.C. § 1782.
As per the court's directives, CSU is required to complete all necessary filings for the release of the documents by 5 p.m. on Tuesday. Furthermore, the court has ordered CSU to produce all relevant and non-privileged documents in response to specific requests by Mr. Abubakar's subpoena, by noon on Monday, October 2, 2023. Additionally, the deposition of CSU's corporate designee under Rule 30(b)(6) must be completed by 5:00 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.
Abubakar, the PDP's presidential candidate, had approached the US District Court in Northern Illinois to compel CSU to release Tinubu's academic records. He argued that these records would be essential in his legal challenge against the President's election in the February 25 presidential poll. Atiku had requested these documents to support his claim that Tinubu had forged a certificate he purportedly obtained from CSU in 1979, which he submitted to Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2023 presidential election.
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