*Orders school to produce all records by Oct 2, complete all filings Oct 3
By KEMI KASUMU
The court ruled, “Respondent CSU is directed to produce all relevant and non-privileged documents in response to Requests for Production Nos. 1 through 4 (as narrowed by Judge Gilbert and adopted by the District Court in its opinion) in Mr. Abubakar’s subpoena, by 12:00 p.m. (noon) CDT, on Monday, October 2, 2023.
Just as he addressed Nigerians Sunday morning marking the 63rd Independence Anniversary of Nigeria’s freedom from colonial rule, news emerged from United States of America that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had failed in his effort to block access by Nigeria’s former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to his university records in the country.
This was as he lost his appeal against Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Gilbert’s September 20, 2023 order for the release of his academic records by Chicago State University.
The court, before which President Bola Tinubu filed his appeal, has just dismissed his objection and has ordered the Chicago State University (CSU) to release his academic records to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar by Tuesday October 3, 2023.
The presiding judge, Nancy Maldonado, dismissed Tinubu’s objection, issuing a two-day ultimatum to CSU to release the documents to Atiku.
She also upheld the September 20 ruling of US Magistrate Judge, Jeffery Gilbert, who ordered the CSU to release Tinubu’s academic records as requested by Atiku, stressing that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate, Atiku, had the right to have access to the records.
“For the reasons stated in the Court’s accompanying Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Court overrules President Tinubu’s objections (44] and adopts Judge Gilbert’s recommended decision [40] in full.
“The Court therefore grants Mr. Abubakar’s application under 28 U.S.C. § 1782. [1],” Justice Maldonado of the Northern District of Illinois ruled.
According to the judge, CSU must complete all necessary filings regarding the release by 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
The court ruled, “Respondent CSU is directed to produce all relevant and non-privileged documents in response to Requests for Production Nos. 1 through 4 (as narrowed by Judge Gilbert and adopted by the District Court in its opinion) in Mr. Abubakar’s subpoena, by 12:00 p.m. (noon) CDT, on Monday, October 2, 2023.
“The Rule 30(b)(6) deposition of CSU’s corporate designee must be completed by 5:00 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had approached the US District Court in Northern Illinois to compel the university to release Tinubu’s academic records, arguing that it would boost his suit challenging the President’s election in the February 25 presidential poll.
The PDP candidate had requested the documents for use in Nigerian courts to support his argument that Tinubu forged a certificate he claimed to have obtained from CSU in 1979 and submitted to Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for the 2023 presidential election.
See details of ruling below:
