The Northern District of Illinois in Chicago has called on President Bola Tinubu to desist from filing appeals to stop the release of his academic records from Chicago State University.
Nancy Maldonado, the presiding judge ordered the Chicago State University to release Tinubu’s academic records to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Atiku is hoping to use the document in the Supreme Court of Nigeria where he is challenging Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election.
Maldonado, a district judge, said in her September 30 ruling that President Tinubu should not bother returning to her court to attempt obtaining another temporary postponement of the disclosure.The judge said, “The court cautions President Tinubu that any request for a stay before this court will be denied, as the court finds any stay impracticable in light of the fast-approaching Supreme Court of Nigeria deadlines.
“President Tinubu’s argument and rhetoric as to Mr Abubakar’s likelihood of success at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, or his vigorous disputes with the merits of Mr Abubakar’s underlying claims about the election, do not equate to evidence of the Supreme Court of Nigeria’s receptiveness to assistance in discovery.
“The discovery sought here relates not only to a prominent public figure, President Tinubu but is sought as part of an underlying dispute over the Nigerian presidential election, a matter of extreme importance to the Nigerian people.
The judge said, “The court cautions President Tinubu that any request for a stay before this court will be denied, as the court finds any stay impracticable in light of the fast-approaching Supreme Court of Nigeria deadlines.
“President Tinubu’s argument and rhetoric as to Mr Abubakar’s likelihood of success at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, or his vigorous disputes with the merits of Mr Abubakar’s underlying claims about the election, do not equate to evidence of the Supreme Court of Nigeria’s receptiveness to assistance in discovery.
“The discovery sought here relates not only to a prominent public figure, President Tinubu but is sought as part of an underlying dispute over the Nigerian presidential election, a matter of extreme importance to the Nigerian people.
“The discovery is thus undoubtedly of significant importance, as are the issues at stake. And CSU has sole access to the discovery—there is no other way for Mr Abubakar to access the sought-after information about President Tinubu’s diploma and education.”