The Chicago State University (CSU) acknowledged on Thursday that President Bola Tinubu attended the university and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1979.
The university made the announcement in a statement to CBS Broadcasting Inc., also known as CBS News, one of America’s largest and most powerful news networks.
It did, however, point out that federal law in the United States prohibits it from sharing any additional information regarding Tinubu’s record without consent or unless authorized by a court order.
Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, said that documents proving Tinubu’s graduation from Chicago State University in 1979 were falsified, using this as grounds to overturn Tinubu’s election victory.
The certificate was signed by university President Elnora Daniel and was issued in 1979. Daniel, on the other hand, did not arrive to CSU until 1998 and left roughly ten years later.
According to Atiku, submitting fake records to the National Election Commission before the vote should invalidate the election.
Atiku’s attorneys requested a federal judge in Chicago last week to compel CSU authorities to turn over Tinubu’s academic documents and appear for depositions. The request was denied by Judge Jeffrey Gilbert of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
According to CSU’s lawyer, Michael Hayes, the university will be unable to authenticate Tinubu’s diploma under oath.
According to a CSU official, the university could confirm the president graduated. However, because the diploma was a ceremonial document and not part of a student’s formal academic file, it cannot be authenticated.
The Presidential Election Petition Court dismissed Atiku’s challenge against Tinubu’s February 25 election earlier this month. However, the PDP presidential contender is still fighting the president’s academic scores in Chicago.
CSU, on the other hand, explained in a statement to CBS yesterday: “As an educational institution, we are sometimes asked to provide information related to student records.” The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) safeguards the privacy of student records and limits what an institution can reveal.
“In August 2023, a request was made to the U.S. federal court for the university to provide information related to educational records concerning Bola Tinubu, the President of Nigeria, and a former CSU student.
“The university has confirmed Tinubu attended CSU and graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree. Federal law, however, prevents us from providing any further information without consent or unless allowed to do so via court order.
“CSU is confident in the veracity and integrity of our records regarding Tinubu’s completion of graduation requirements and degree certificate. The university is not a party to the Nigerian legal proceedings that spurred this request, and a U.S. federal judge will determine whether the university will provide further requested information.
“Our response to the request for Tinubu’s academic records has been entirely consistent with our practices, policies and federal law. We would respond in exactly the same manner for any request for any student information by a third party.”
Chicago State University Statement to CBS:
As an educational institution, we are sometimes asked to provide information related to student records. Federal law known as FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) protects the privacy of student records and limits what an institution can release.
In August 2023, a request was made in U.S. federal court for the university to provide information related to educational records concerning Bola Tinubu, the President of Nigeria, and a former CSU student. The university has confirmed Tinubu attended CSU and graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree. Federal law, however, prevents us from providing any further information without consent or unless allowed to do so via court order.
CSU is confident in the veracity and integrity of our records regarding Tinubu’s completion of graduation requirements and degree certificate. The university is not a party to the Nigerian legal proceedings that spurred this request, and a U.S. federal judge will determine whether the university will provide further requested information.
Our response to the request for Tinubu’s academic records has been entirely consistent with our practices, policies and federal law. We would respond in exactly the same manner for any request for any student information by a third party.