In an emergency hearing, U.S. District Judge Nancy Maldonado agreed to stay an order requiring CSU to provide certain academic documents of one of its former students, Bola Tinubu, who has just been elected president of the African nation.

That order by Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Gilbert would have required CSU to submit the documents by the end of Thursday. Judge Maldonado gave attorneys on both sides to file additional arguments by next Thursday. Tinubu's attorneys argued that Gilbert's decision needed to be reviewed by a district judge. That request was granted by Maldonado.

Mindful of legal deadlines in Nigeria, Maldonado said she would rule as quickly as possible after that. "I will have a busy weekend," she said.

"The issue is of process and rules. I'm a rule person; that's why I'm a judge. This case is quite involved. I am aware of the stakes. It's more important to me to get this right."

Rival Abubakar claims fraud
Tinubu's political rival, Atiku Abubakar, claims that documents showing that Tinubu graduated from Chicago State in 1979 are not authentic, and that is grounds to nullify Tinubu's election victory earlier this year.

The university says it can confirm the president graduated from CSU. However, it cannot authenticate the diploma because it is a ceremonial document, not part of a student's official academic file.

Abubakar finished second behind Tinubu in February's vote and has challenged the result in Nigeria's courts ever since. This legal skirmish in Chicago is part of that challenge, placing CSU at the center of an international political dispute.

At the hearing on Thursday, CSU attorney Michael Hayes said the university wants clarity and is ready to provide the requested documents once the legal issues are resolved.

"We don't have a dog in this fight," said Hayes, adding that the university has amassed significant legal fees and unwarranted bad public relations because of the political fight in a foreign land.

Legal fight in Nigeria
Abubakar, a former Nigerian vice president, and the People's Democratic Party challenged the results with the country's Presidential Election Petition Court. That challenge was rejected, and Abubakar is appealing that ruling to the country's Supreme Court. Abubakar's attorneys argue that upcoming deadlines to file legal papers in that case place importance on this issue here in Chicago.

Abubakar claims that Tinubu submitted a forged Chicago State diploma to the country's election commission before the vote, which should disqualify him.

Both Maldonado and Gilbert acknowledged a tight time frame considering the legal challenges happening in Nigeria and ordered CSU to submit relevant documents this week.

CSU's Hayes said it does not have a certified copy of Tinubu's diploma because it is not part of a student's official academic record. He said the university has a few dozen pages of forms, including transcripts, details of transfer credits, and an admission letter.

What documents are at issue?
In his petition Atiku Abubakar wants:

- An example of a CSU diploma issued in 1979.
- Tinubu's diploma issued in 1979
- Any example of a CSU diploma that "contains the same font, seal, signatures and wording" as Tinubu's diploma issued in June 1979.
- CSU documents certified and produced by Jamar Orr, an associate general counsel at CSU at the time.
- Abubakar also wants his lawyers to depose CSU officials about the authenticity of Tinumbu's academic documents.
- They also want CSU officials to explain a letter from university Registrar Caleb Westberg confirming Tinubu's graduation.

Chicago State released the following statement:
As an educational institution, we are sometimes asked to provide information related to student records. A federal law known as FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) protects the privacy of student records and limits what an institution can release.

In August 2023, a request was made in U.S. federal court by a third party for the university to provide information related to educational records concerning Bola Tinubu, the President of Nigeria, and a former CSU student.

The university can confirm Tinubu attended CSU and graduated in 1979 with a bachelor's degree. Federal law, however, prevents us from providing any further information without consent or unless allowed to do so via court order.

It is important to note that the university is not a party to the Nigerian legal proceedings that spurred this request. We are confident in the veracity and integrity of our records regarding Tinubu's completion of graduation requirements and degree certificate.

Our response to the request for Tinubu's academic records has been entirely consistent with our practices, policies and federal law. We would respond in exactly the same manner for any request for any student information by a third party.

Ibrahimcoomasie:


CSU's Hayes said it does not have a certified copy of Tinubu's diploma because it is not part of a student's official academic record. He said the university has a few dozen pages of forms, including transcripts, details of transfer credits, and an admission letter.

Kaycee9242:
Why is Tinubu not proud of showcasing his first class certificate. What is he hiding

Raskimonojendor:

The same documents we have all already seen online a couple of days ago.

Raskimonojendor:

The same documents we have all already seen online a couple of days ago.

fx45:
You go defend tire!

Raskimonojendor:

And you go wail tire

fx45:
Them no wan hang the case again? Mr Hung

Kaycee9242:
Why is Tinubu not proud of showcasing his first class certificate. What is he hiding

Validated:

Why is Tinubu not proud of his academic prowess as a Fitst Class graduate who was one of the most recruited in his days?
Surely, a rotten fish is smelling.

Kaycee9242:
Why is Tinubu not proud of showcasing his first class certificate. What is he hiding

Eniitankorede:





It is everywhere. Do you need glasses to read it.

Pakute:
When you are big, you are big, na CSU dey carry Jagaban fight for head like gele, while Jagaban dey cuddle Remi for night dey enjoy nunu.

Truths9ja:
If Biden can’t protect his own son and Trump can’t protect himself from prosecution, what make you Nigerians think Tinubu will be protected by US.

US is not Nigeria! Here in US every citizen pray not to be entangled with the law, that includes Presidents.

Now, Tinubu lawyers have bought him time for him Tinubu to escape US without incident, so they have achieved their goal.

If Tinubu results and transcript are released today, and things fishy were found, Tinubu as the president of Nigeria will be evacuated shamelessly and escorted by the law enforcement officers out of US, which will alert US and international media.

All media will carry the incident. He will not be arrested but evacuated which will be an international embarrassment to Nigeria and even US, since it happened in US soil.

So, I indulge everyone to stop casting stones. Justice will be served.

Already the fake Tinubu has already implicated himself by saying that severe irreparable damage will be done to his life if the transcript was to be released today.

By that statement alone, he has admitted in court that he committed an offense, forgery and possibly an identity fraud.

Tell me, what can possibly cause severe irreparable damage to a man’s life by releasing an ordinary transcript?
Transcript others freely make available to the public or employers.

In the other hand, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar won today, freedom and democracy won today

As today will be remembered as the day a sitting president told the world that his releasing his transcripts will cause a severe irreparable damage to his life. Imagine that!

Many years to come, he Atiku Abubakar will be remembered as one man that stood against tyranny to stop third term of a sitting president in Nigeria.

One man who lost everything to fighting to protect democracy, against all odds he stood alone fighting injustice.

Love him or hate him, he is a true democrat and defender of democracy.

Today, he fights for all while others watched

He has withstood every battle thrown to him, still smiling.

Generations to come, his name will be remembered no matter how adversaries will try to erase his accomplishments!

They will make songs with his name, children will dance to songs.

Three thousand years from today the name Atiku Abubakar will continue to echo in the chambers of Democratic halls in Nigeria and the world.

I am proud to associate my name with his.

He is the true Lion of Jada, Nigerians will never forget.

He is a true champion of democracy!

Until this case is over, history will continue to be made!

What a beautiful time to be alive!

I am High Chief Franklin Ekechukwu

https://twitter.com/Frankekechukwu/status/1705040453614162079

Raskimonojendor:

Case is still in court, and it will end up as a nothing burger. Mtchew

Eniitankorede:





It is everywhere. Do you need glasses to read it.

Kaycee9242:


If its everywhere why then is he stopping chicago uni from releasing what is already out as you said? He should be proud to release it any time and any day its requested for. He is a public figure for Pete's sake

muhammaduyusufu:
A very good unbiased report and recap of what's going on between the Waziri Adamawa and the Jagaban Borgu.