The President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has asked a court in the United States to strike out a subpoena seeking details of information about his claim to have attended the Chicago State University.
The move by the President was coming following a subpoena dispensed by counsels to his arch rival in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, urging the Chicago State University to appear for deposition upon oral examination in respect to the claim of Tinubu being a graduate of the institution.
The subpoena issued by counsels to Atiku on July 11, 2023, is requesting a representative of the institution to enter depositions on July 21.
The petition by Atiku had specifically queried the authenticity of documents relating to Tinubu’s attendance of the Chicago State University.
The petition claims in part, “that Mr. Tinubu had previously asserted that he attended various educational institutions located in the Chicago area, including but not limited to Chicago State University.
“To test the truth and veracity of Mr. Tinubu’s assertion, Petitioner must depose a corporate representative of the Respondent (Chicago State University) regarding educational records of lack thereof from respondent.
“To identify and determine if Mr. Tinubu attended above-mentioned institution, Petitioner needs disposition testimony regarding the following information: admission information pertaining to Mr. Tinubu, proof of enrollment and attendance of Mr. Tinubu, and any degrees Mr. Tinubu attained from the respondent.”
However, rather than accede to the request to make open his educational background and claims, President Tinubu instructed his lawyers to ask the court to, “quash the subpoena, strike out the petition.”
Tinubu, through his lawyer, had hinged his application to the court in quashing the subpoena on technical grounds.
A source who is in the Atiku legal team in the United States said, under condition of anonymity, that “giving the pretentious approach with which President Tinubu is attempting to conceal his educational background, it is obvious that there is something fishy about his claims.
“We shall approach the court again to set aside his request, and it is in the interest of our country, Nigeria, that we must get to the roots of this matter.”
The source did not mention the next line of strategy to be adopted in responding to the matter.