Law
Chicago State University releases Tinubu’s academic records to Atiku
The Chicago State University was able to locate and produce three out of the four sets of documents requested concerning Mr Tinubu to Atiku.
The Chicago State University (CSU) has finally released the academic records of President Bola Tinubu to his pollical opponent, Atiku Abubakar, in line with an order of a United States court.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nigeria’s 25 February election, had requested the documents to back his allegation of forgery of CSU certificate against Mr Tinubu. It would mean Mr Tinubu was not qualify to run for the election, which he won, if the allegation is successfully proved against him.
The university, on Monday, presented to Atiku’s legal team, a cache of documents connected to Mr Tinubu’s education at the institution and copies of certificates with redacted names issued to other persons about the same time the Nigerian president finished from the school in 1979.
It also contained Mr Tinubu’s admission records, and a letter dated 27 June 2022 confirming that he attended the university from August 1977 and June 1979 majoring in accounting. The letter said Mr Tinubu was awarded Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with Honours on 22 June 1979.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the District Court in Northern Illinois, had in its judgement delivered on Saturday, given the university up till 12 noon on Monday to deliver the documents to Atiku.
The judge, Nancy Maldonado, gave the other after dismissing Mr Tinubu’s objection in the judgement.
Ms Maldonando dismissed Mr Tinubu’s objection to the 20 September decision of a magistrate judge of the court, Jeffery Gilbert.
The judge fully affirmed Mr Gilbert’s ruling, ordering the CSU to release Mr Tinubu’s academic records as requested by Atiku. She insisted Atiku had the right to have access to the records.
Compliance
Complying with the court order on Monday, the university produced four sets of documents copies of which went viral online on Monday. Phrank Shuaibu, a spokesperson to Atiku, confirmed the documents as those received from the university to PREMIUM TIMES.
In a deposition detailing its compliance with the court order, the university confirmed it was able to grant three of Atiku’s four requests.
Responding to one of the requests it granted, the university said, “after diligent search”. it was able to locate and produce seven different certificates for Bachelor of Science degree it issued in 1979.
Atiku had apparently requested the documents to compare and contrast them with the one presented by Mr Tinubu as his for the 2023 presidential election.
The university also handed to Atiku’s team, documents relating to Mr Tinubu and certified by an official of CSU, Jamar C. Orr, a lawyer.
The university similarly produced, “after diligent search”, copies of three other diploma certificates issued to other students other than Mr Tinubu in 1979.
This was in response to Atiku’s request for “true and correct copies of any diplomas issued by CSU (other than to Mr Tinubu) that contain the same font, seal, signatures, and wording (other than the name of the recipient and the specific degree awarded)”. Atiku sought these documents to compare and contrast them with the one Mr Tinubu claimed to have obtained on or about 22 June 1979.
But the university said it was unable to locate “a copy of the original diploma it prepared for Mr Tinubu in 1979” as requested by Atiku.
This was the kernel of Atiku’s request which is at the heart of the issue he intends to use the documents for in his legal challenge of Mr Tinubu’s victory at the 25 February presidential election.
The university said it “does not in the ordinary course keep copies of student diplomas, and after diligent search cannot locate a copy of the original diploma it prepared for Mr. Tinubu in 1979, hence has no documents responsive to this request.”
Atiku’s battle with Tinubu
Atiku had asked for the documents for use in Nigerian courts to support his argument that Mr Tinubu forged a diploma certificate he claimed to have obtained from CSU in 1979 and submitted to Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC, for the 2023 presidential election.
This, Atiku argued, goes to the root of Mr Tinubu’s qualification to contest the last presidential election.
Although Atiku lost his case against Mr Tinubu at the Presidential Election Petition Court which delivered its judgement in early September, he hopes to reintroduce the issue backed with the documents from the CSU in his appeal which he is pursuing against the election court’s decision at the Nigerian Supreme Court.
Atiku had told the US district court that he had up till 5 October to file the documents from the CSU against Mr Tinubu at the Supreme Court in Nigeria.
Mr Tinubu mounted stiff opposition to the release of the documents to Atiku, arguing that “the Nigerian election proceedings and the Nigerian courts” had explicitly rejected the documents Atiku sought to obtain and tender in his case aimed at overturning the results of the 25 February presidential election.
Mr Tinubu’s second reason was that Atiku’s request “is unduly intrusive because it allows Applicant (Atiku) to conduct a fishing expedition into Intervenor’s private, confidential, and protected educational records.”
ut dismissing Mr Tinubu’s objection on Saturday, Ms Maldonado said she was only affirming Atiku’s right to have access to the CSU documents, not confirming the merit of his allegations against the Nigerian president or his comments on the validity of the country’s presidential election.
“In reaching this conclusion, the Court emphasises that it is expressing no view on the merits of Mr Abubakar’s underlying claims regarding President Tinubu or his graduation from CSU, or on the validity of the Nigerian election.
“Nor is the Court taking any position on what any of the documents or testimony from CSU may or may not ultimately show. The Court simply finds, on the narrow question before it, that Mr Abubakar is entitled to the production of documents and testimony that he seeks from CSU,” a summary of the judgement read in part.
Culled from Premium Times
The Edo State Gubernatorial Election Petition Tribunal, on Tuesday, expressed its displeasure with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, for failing to produce witnesses in their petition challenging the outcome of the September 21, 2024, governorship election.
Presiding over the tribunal’s first sitting in Abuja following its relocation from Benin, Justice Wilfred Kpochi criticized the PDP’s inability to utilize the scheduled time effectively, stating it had wasted judicial resources.
The tribunal, which was relocated to Abuja amidst security concerns and fears of possible arson, had cleared its docket on Tuesday to focus solely on the PDP’s petition. However, the party’s counsel, Adetunji Oyeyipo, SAN, cited travel disruptions as the reason for the absence of key witnesses, despite prior commitments.
“My lords, most of our witnesses faced travel difficulties. We assure you they will be available at the next sitting,” Oyeyipo pleaded.
Justice Kpochi, visibly irked, questioned the seriousness of the petitioners. “Why then did we reschedule other matters to prioritize yours? We could have heard other cases today.”
Despite Oyeyipo’s plea for understanding, the tribunal adjourned the matter to Thursday, emphasizing the need for expediency in the proceedings.
Earlier in the session, Mr. Oseyili Anenih, who served as the PDP’s Director of Research and Strategy during the election, admitted under cross-examination that his observations were based on reports from the party’s situation room, not direct interactions with polling units.
Anenih revealed that PDP is contesting the results from 765 of Edo’s 4,519 polling units, alleging that many valid votes were not properly transmitted to the state collation centers. He also confirmed the party’s reliance on screenshots of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, as they lacked physical access to the devices.
While acknowledging inconsistencies in the stamping of results, Anenih argued that the stamped copies represented a significant sample of the alleged irregularities.
The PDP and Ighodalo have asked the tribunal to nullify the election of Governor Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC). They allege widespread non-compliance with the Electoral Act and other irregularities, arguing that their candidate secured the majority of valid votes.
Governor Okpebholo’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, dismissed the claims, emphasizing the lack of concrete evidence from the petitioners.
As the tribunal prepares to resume on Thursday, all eyes remain on the PDP to present its case and witnesses. The outcome of the petition could significantly impact the political landscape in Edo State.
Legal powerhouse, Falana and Falana Chambers, has filed petitions with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against Rebecca Omokamo Godwin Isaac, also known as Hajia Bilikisu Ishaqu Aliyu, and her firm, Homadil Realty Limited. 
The allegations include financial fraud, forgery of documents, and illegal land grabbing involving Plot 4022 in Guzape, Abuja.
The petitions, made on behalf of the Yesufu family, accuse Mrs. Omokamo and her associates of conspiracy, forgery, and fraudulent acquisition of funds.
The legal battle dates back to 2014 when Mrs. Omokamo allegedly purchased the disputed land but subsequently lost its title documents. 
The Yesufu family claims ownership and has been in protracted legal and investigative disputes over the land.
In a related incident in May 2024, a PREMIUM TIMES reporter, Emmanuel Agbo, investigating the case, was summoned by the police after communications with Mrs. Omokamo.
She denied the allegations in conversations but later accused the EFCC of harassment in an open letter to President Bola Tinubu. Mrs. Omokamo claimed EFCC interference in what she called a civil matter, further alleging the unjust detention of her husband and staff.
However, subsequent investigations by the EFCC and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) reportedly uncovered extensive fraudulent dealings tied to Mrs. Omokamo.
The findings led to separate petitions to the ICPC, prompting further investigations into alleged forgery of land titles and fraudulent sales involving multiple properties, including a 2.3-hectare plot in Katampe District, Abuja.
Efforts to resolve the matter amicably, including appeals by Mrs. Omokamo’s husband and traditional rulers to the Yesufu family, reportedly failed. Allegations emerged that Mrs. Omokamo had sold the Katampe property to over 60 victims using forged documents.
Her purported resistance to settlement and her legal maneuvers to block investigations drew criticism.
In October 2024, Mrs. Omokamo filed a motion at the Federal High Court in Abuja to prevent further investigations by the EFCC and ICPC. Simultaneously, her husband reportedly sought forgiveness from the Yesufu family, a move seen as contradictory given Mrs. Omokamo’s legal actions.
The Yesufu family, represented by Falana and Falana Chambers, has called for the prosecution of Mrs. Omokamo, her husband, and their accomplices.
They also requested investigation reports to aid civil proceedings. Meanwhile, the company’s secretary, Mr. Kolawole James Olowokere, recently withdrew his
In a bid to mark the 2024 Christmas season with acts of compassion, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has granted clemency to Segun Olowookere and Sunday Morakinyo.
They were sentenced to death in 2014 for robbery-related offenses committed in 2010.
The duo, aged 17 at the time, had been convicted of stealing two fowls, eggs, and mobile phones from individuals in Okuku, Osun State.
Despite the minor theft, the court had sentenced them to death by hanging in 2014, sparking nationwide outrage over the severity of the punishment.
Ademola Adeleke
They were granted a prerogative of mercy alongside 51 other convicts who had varying levels of sentences in correctional centres in Osun, by the governor.
The governor’s decision, made on the recommendation of the State Advisory Council on the Prerogative of Mercy, highlighted a broader push for prison reforms and justice review in the state.
Governor Adeleke, through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, stated that the clemency alignsled with constitutional powers and the spirit of the season.
“This exercise of mercy follows the recommendations made by the State Advisory Council and underscores the administration’s commitment to fairness and humanity,” Rasheed said in a statement.
The letter of commutation, dated December 24, 2024, has been officially acknowledged by prison authorities.
The governor’s move has sparked debates over Nigeria’s judicial process, with human rights advocates praising the decision as a step toward addressing sentencing disparities and prison decongestion.
The case of Olowookere and Morakinyo, sentenced as teenagers, drew public attention due to the severity of their punishment relative to the crime.
Their release is expected to reignite discussions on justice reforms and youth rehabilitation programs.
In his address, Governor Adeleke emphasized the importance of second chances and pledged to continue reviewing cases deserving of mercy while balancing justice with compassion.
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