Tinubu’s Chicago University classmate testifies in US court

Latest Update on Tinubu vs. Atiku Legal Battle: Former Classmate Swears Oath Regarding Academic Records

In the ongoing legal dispute between President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over Tinubu’s academic records from Chicago State University, a new development has surfaced. A self-proclaimed classmate of the former Lagos Governor, Olajide Adeniji, has taken an oath affirming his acquaintance with Tinubu during their time at the university.

Adeniji testified in a United States district court, asserting that he knows Tinubu and even contested against him for the position of President of the Accounting Society Club at the Department of Business Admin/Accounting during their studies at the same alma mater.

This revelation comes in the wake of a similar claim made by public affairs analyst Durojaiye Ogunsanya, who stated that he was a coursemate of the Nigerian president and that they both graduated from the Department of Accounting and Business Administration at Chicago State University in 1979.

In an affidavit sworn on September 23 at the Northern District of Illinois Court in Chicago, Adeniji stated, “I am familiar with Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is now the President of Nigeria. I was a student at Chicago State University from 1977 to 1979 and Bola Tinubu and I were in the same course of study.”

Atiku Abubakar had previously obtained an application for Chicago State University to provide Tinubu’s academic records to his legal team. Acting on the application, Magistrate Jeffrey Gilbert ordered the university to furnish all relevant and non-privileged documents to Atiku’s legal team within two days.

Atiku is currently challenging Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential poll, contesting the recent affirmation of Tinubu’s win by an election petition court in Nigeria. The sought-after documents include Tinubu’s record of admission and acceptance, dates of attendance, degrees, awards, and honors attained during his time at the university.

In response, Tinubu has requested the US district Judge, Nancy Maldonado, to order Chicago State University to release only his certificate and protect his privileged information such as admission records and transcripts from public access. This motion was filed by Tinubu’s lawyer, Christopher Carmichael, emphasizing the critical facts already established by his alma mater.