The continuing court battle between President Bola Tinubu and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his academic records at Chicago State University has taken a fresh turn after a self-proclaimed classmate of the former Lagos Governor, Olajide Adeniji, swore an oath that he knew him.
Adeniji testified in a US district court that he knew Tinubu and ran against him as President of the Accounting Society Club at the same university’s Department of Business Administration/Accounting.
The news comes just two weeks after a public affairs expert, Durojaiye Ogunsanya, claimed to be the Nigerian president’s coursemate.
Ogunsanya, who appeared on TVC’s renowned breakfast show ‘This Morning,’ testified that they both graduated from the same university’s Department of Accounting and Business Administration in 1979.
Adeniji attested to an affidavit on September 23 in the Northern District of Illinois Court in Chicago that he knew the same Tinubu who is Nigeria’s current president.
His affidavit read,
“I, Olajide Adeniji, after having been first duly sworn upon oath, do hereby state that I am over 21 years of age, that I have personal knowledge of the facts stated herein, and could competently testify thereto if called upon to do so: I attended Chicago State University, Chicago, Illinois from 1977 to 1979 when I graduated with a degree in Business Administration/Accounting in 1979.
“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.
“I also ran in a closely-contested race against and Bola Tinubu for the Leadership of Accounting Society Club of the Department of Business Administration/Accounting. I also recognize and know the person who I attended Chicago State University with, Bola A. Tinubu, is the same person who is now the President of Nigeria. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C 1746, I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct”
Atiku had successfully petitioned CSU to release the president’s academic records to his legal team.
Acting on the motion, a magistrate, Jeffrey Gilbert, ordered Tinubu’s alma mater to disclose the petitioner with all relevant and non-privileged papers within two days.
Atiku is currently contesting his victory in the 2023 presidential election and his recent affirmation by a Nigerian election petition court.
The documents sought by the PDP candidate, through his counsel, Angela Liu, include the former governor of Lagos State’s record of entrance and acceptance at the university, dates of attendance including degrees, prizes and honors attained at the university, and others.
On Monday, Tinubu argued with US District Judge Nancy Maldonado to order Chicago State University to retain his sensitive information, such as admission records, transcripts, and gender, and to reveal just his certificate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s legal team.
The president’s lawyer, Christopher Carmichael, filed the move to exclude other records, emphasizing that ‘the most significant truth has already been clearly and indisputably proved’ by his alma university.
The PUNCH