Severe, irreparable harm will be done to me if CSU releases my records - Tinubu begs U.S. senior judge

The battle between President Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar at a United States court over academic records continues.

President Bola Tinubu through his lawyer begged the judge to place an emergency hold on the September 6, order directing the release of his academic records to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

According to Tinubu, he would suffer severe and irreparable damages which would be impossible to mitigate if it is not delayed.

“Severe and irreparable harm will be done to Bola Tinubu if the records are released,” Mr Tinubu’s lawyer argued at an emergency appeal before Judge Nancy Maldonado of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago.

Tinubu’s lawyer said argued this during the court hearing that began at 3:00 p.m. via telephone conference. Chicago State University was ordered to release the documents to Mr Abubakar today.

Recall that Abubakar of the PDP filed a subpoena application seeking to obtain academic records of Tinubu at the Chicago State University with the aim of nullifying his victory as per the constitutional section that disqualifies a candidate who submitted a forged certificate to the electoral office INEC.

This comes as a result of the widespread inconsistencies with Tinubu’s academic records.

On Tuesday, September 19, the US judge Gilbert ordered the production of varsity to produce all documents as well as deposition of the school’s administrators to Atiku Abubakar.

The Chicago State University however said Tinubu attended and graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the institution. However, they have also said they couldn’t authenticate his certificate under oath because they couldn’t tell where he found it.

Atiku intends to file the academic records before the Supreme Court as part of his appeal against the tribunal verdict that affirmed Tinubu’s victory is facing a hindrance as Tinubu argued that the documents should not be released to Mr Abubakar.

According to Peoples Gazzette, Abubakar submitted his appeal to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, September 19, the same day Judge Gilbert ordered CSU to release Tinubu’s academic records within two days.

As the 48-hour deadline loomed on Thursday afternoon, Tinubu was reported to have approached Ms Maldonado, seeking a delay, and suddenly elevating the desperate situation of the matter to include potential damage to Tinubu’s life.

The Judge subsequently granted the application to delay the release of the documents and ordered all parties to file their full briefs by September 25.