U.S. Court grants Tinubu’s request to postpone release of school records

A U.S. District Judge Nancy Maldonado, has acquiesced to a request to delay the release of certain academic documents of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, by the Chicago State University (CSU).

Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Gilbert had previously ordered CSU to furnish the documents by the end of Thursday.

However, Tinubu filed an Emergency Motion urging the Chicago Court to postpone the release of his academic records until at least Monday, September 25th.

An emergency hearing held on Thursday saw Judge Maldonado instruct attorneys from both parties to file additional arguments by the upcoming Thursday.

The legal team representing the Nigerian President contended that Gilbert’s decision needed a thorough review by a district judge.

Maldonado approved their request, stating she would expedite a ruling following the review.

“I will have a busy weekend. The issue is of process and rules. I’m a rule person; that’s why I’m a judge. This case is quite involved. I am aware of the stakes. It’s more important to me to get this right,” she said.

Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar is contending Tinubu’s assertion of graduating from the CSU and had filed an application seeking the documents to substantiate his claim that Tinubu was ineligible to contest the February presidential election.

The requested documents include the record of admission and acceptance at the university, dates of attendance, degrees, awards, and honours achieved by Tinubu during his time at the university, among other details.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Abubakar’s legal pursuit as ‘’an expedition in futility,’’ reiterating that the President had nothing to hide.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Duro Meseko, stressed that the ruling party was unperturbed by the court order, firmly standing by the President’s transparency and assertion of having nothing to hide.