A federal court in Chicago has ruled that Chicago State University (CSU) should release all records relating to President Bola Tinubu, to Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, within two days.
The court said the former vice-president of Nigeria has been able to sufficiently satisfy the purpose for seeking the records
Judge Jeffrey Gilbert also ordered a deposition of designated CSU officials within two days after the records have been released, noting further that the process can be conducted during the weekend, if necessary.
“For all of the reasons discussed above, Atiku Abubakar’s application pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1782 for an order directing discovery from Chicago State University for use in a foreign proceeding [ECF No. 1] is granted,” Mr Gilbert ruled.
“Respondent CSU shall produce all relevant and non-privileged documents in response to requests for production Nos. 1 through 4 (as narrowed by the court) in applicant subpoena within two days of the entry of this memorandum opinion and order.
“The deposition of respondent’s corporate designee shall proceed within two days of the production of documents. The parties can modify the dates set by the court by mutual agreement. Given the tight time frame under which the parties are operating, the deposition can, if necessary, occur on a non-weekday,” the court added.
The order comes hours afterwards Atiku filed his appeal to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, following the September 6 judgement of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal that upheld Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential election.
Atiku had on August 2 filed an application for the court to order CSU to produce documents relating to Tinubu, as well as leave to get the school’s administrators to authenticate any documents submitted under oath.
Atiku said the documents would be used as part of his challenge against President Tinubu’s electoral victory before the court.
Atiku, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, said Tinubu should not have been allowed to run for the office of president because he had submitted a forged document under oath in violation of the Nigerian Constitution.
