Judge Maldonado To Rule ‘As Soon As Possible’ Whether CSU Should Release Tinubu’s Records, Says Public Interest Of Nigerians Significant

The decision on whether the Chicago State University will go ahead and release the academic records of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu within 48 hours, as ordered by a US magistrate, will be given any moment from now, according to Judge Nancy Maldonado of the U.S. Court for the Northern District of Illinois, who was asked to review that order by Tinubu’s lawyers.

The judge said her court has been bombarded with emails from Nigerians eagerly anticipating her decision on whether or not she will order Chicago State University (CSU) to release President Tinubu’s records. 

Therefore, she has decided to issue a ruling on the matter “as soon as possible,” a court filing seen by CHECKPOINTCHARLEY stated.

“The Court notes that Court staff has received extensive email communications from members of the public related to this case,” stated the court document entered into docket on Friday. 

The “Court will endeavour to issue a written ruling as soon as possible,” the document noted acknowledging that the matter was of utmost interest to Nigerians curious to learn the background of their leader and had sent the court a flurry of emails.

“The Court understands the significant public interest in this dispute but the Court will not consider any third-party or ex parte submissions.”

Mr. Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who came second in the February Presidential Election, according to disputed results declared by the electoral umpire, is seeking Tinubu’s records in his bid to prove that the degree certificate he submitted to INEC was forged – and therefore unqualified to stand for election.

Both Atiku and Peter Obi of the Labour Party had appealled the unfavourable decision of the Presidential Election Tribunal of September 6, which affirmed Tinubu’s controversial election victory.

“The June 22 diploma has indicia of forgery,” Angela Liu, the U.S. attorney representing Mr Abubakar, told the court on Wednesday.

Judge Jeffrey Gilbert had on September 20 ordered CSU to release Mr Tinubu’s records but the president begged Ms Maldonado to delay the order’s enforcement, pleading “severe and irreparable damage to his life.”

From what transpired during the review process at Maldonado’s court, nothing suggests that Mr. Tinubu’s lawyers had successfully established their client’s claim.