‘We are the Supreme Court’– Atiku, reveals Tinubu’s records from Chicago varsity

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku has stated that he will only rest his case challenging the February 25 poll once the Supreme Court rules on it, whether for or against him.

Speaking during a World Press Conference at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, Thursday, convened by him days after securing a landmark victory in a United States court granting him access to academic records of President Bola Tinubu at the Chicago State University (CSU) where the latter is an alumni, Atiku noted further that ‘for now Nigerians are the Supreme Court.’

“It should not take months or, indeed, decades, for the institutions concerned to be able to do their work in establishing the credibility of any certificates presented by candidates for public office.

We undertook this journey at great cost and for important reasons. The ground rules for legitimate governance in our country need to be upheld, and the reputation of our country is at stake. That affects everyone, Nigerians everywhere.

“I am a democrat by conviction and a citizen of a country that I love. The issues at stake in this case require us once more to re-dedicate ourselves to both the country and our constitution.

Now, we entrust these facts to us all as citizens and as leaders of the institutions charged with interpreting our constitution.

“I should thank the lawyers both in Nigeria and in the United States, who have assisted us in bringing clarity and definitive answers to these issues that appear to have defied our institutions for nearly a quarter of a century. I also want to extend my gratitude to Nigerian citizens and friends of Nigeria both within and beyond the shores of our country for their patience as we have sought to find the facts and establish the truth,” Atiku said.

Atiku has been engaged in a legal battle in his attempt to secure records of Tinubu at the institution to back his allegation of perjury against the President who he claims submitted forged credentials to obtain clearance from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the February 25 presidential election.

INEC had on March 1, 2023 declared Tinubu as winner of the election with over 8 million votes, with Atiku coming in second place with over 6 million votes secured, and the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Mr Peter Obi in close third with over 6 million as well.

However, both Obi and Atiku’s petitions before the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) were dismissed last September 6 for lacking in merit by the justices, as they also affirmed Tinubu as duly elected amid dissatisfaction among the Nigerian populace.

One of the grounds of Atiku’s petition was Tinubu’s submission of forged documents to INEC as well as dual citizenship.

In its judgement, the PEPT dismissed both charges. However, Atiku approached the U.S court seeking more documents to back his original charge of perjury and lying under oath against Tinubu over allegations of forged credentials.

Last Saturday, Atiku secured a breakthrough as a Federal Judge in the United States District Court in Northern Illinois, Ms Nancy Maldonado vacated her own order by ordering the CSU to release the said academic records within two days of the ruling, meaning the CSU has till 12pm of Monday afternoon to make the documents public to Atiku and his legal team.

Tinubu’s lawyers had appealed the verdict of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago, Eastern Division, presided over by Judge Jeffrey Gilbert who had earlier ordered CSU to release Tinubu’s records to Atiku, last Thursday.

In her earlier ruling, Thursday, Judge Maldonado had instead ordered a stay of execution on the ruling by Judge Gilbert, before vacating the order on Saturday to give the CSU two days within which to release to Atiku the entire records of Tinubu at the university.

Addressing a World Press Conference, Thursday, in Abuja, Atiku also demanded justice as he seeks to regain his mandate.

“Immediately after the elections, I was told there was a delegation of governors who claimed they were sent by the president, and I did not even allow them to get into my house – I didn’t.

“I will only drop the fight when the court rules. If the court rules that I am right, fine. If the court rules that he is right, fine. So that’s the end of the fight, because, at the moment, we are the Supreme Court, and there is no other higher court than the Supreme Court,” Atiku said.

The former VP also singled out some Nigerians for commendation, as well as ‘millions of Nigerian youths and citizen journalists too who continue to put out the truth online even when no one is listening.’

“I wish to pay tribute to the late human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, who inspired us on this path of discovery. Now, he can truly rest in peace in the assurance that what he started about 23 years ago has come to fruition. Gani’s vindication today gives credence to the saying that no matter how fast a lie runs, the truth will someday overtake it.

“It is for these reasons that commendation must be given to David Hundeyin, an independent journalist whose extraordinary work and those of many more young people like him has become a source of inspiration. Special thanks must be given to the millions of Nigerian youths and citizen journalists too who continue to put out the truth online even when no one is listening. Indeed, the price of Liberty is Eternal Vigilance. They have put the country first in their firm commitment to unravel the truth and hold leaders accountable. This gives me the hope that we have worthy partners in the struggle to reclaim the country we call home.

“This quest is not for or about Atiku Abubakar. It is a quest for the enthronement of truth, morality, and accountability in our public affairs.”

He, therefore, called on other February 25 2023 presidential election candidates, including; Obi, Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and other Nigerians to join his quest for justice over the matter.

“I am calling on all well-meaning Nigerians, leaders of thought, our religious leaders, our traditional leaders, our community leaders, our political leaders, and in particular, Governor Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP and, the leaders of every political party in Nigeria, and, indeed, every single person who loves this country, as I do, and who wishes nothing but the best for the country, as I do, to join me in this campaign to enshrine probity, accountability and the basic principles of justice, morality and uprightness in our country and in our government. This is a task for each and every one of us.”

Meanwhile, details of what is contained in the documents said to be over 200 pages, include that;

Tinubu forged the CSU certificate submitted to INEC; The Southwest College Certificate he used to apply to CSU bears ‘Female’ as gender ; His CSU admission form indicates that he attended Govt College and graduated in 1970 whereas the school was established in 1974; The documents used in applying to CSU belongs to a black American Female.

Others are that; On his INEC form, Tinubu denied having dual citizenship, therefore the admission letter can’t possibly belong to him; The documents indicates that the initial ‘A’ in Bola A Tinubu is ‘Ahmed’ but is ‘Adekunle’ on the fake NYSC certificate he tendered; Supreme court can accept new evidences if the requirements are met and Atiku has met ALL the requirements.

It would be recalled that Judge Maldonando had dismissed Tinubu’s objection to the September 20 decision of a magistrate judge of the court, Jeffery Gilbert.

The judge on Saturday fully affirmed Judge Gilbert’s ruling ordering the CSU to release Tinubu’s academic records as requested by Atiku, as she further insisted Atiku had the right to have access to the records.

“For the reasons stated in the Court’s accompanying Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Court overrules President Tinubu’s objections (44] and adopts Judge Gilbert’s recommended decision [40] in full.

“The Court therefore grants Mr. Abubakar’s application under 28 U.S.C. § 1782. [1],” Ms Maldonado ruled.

She said the CSU must complete all necessary filings with regard to the release by 5 pm on Tuesday.

“Respondent CSU is directed to produce all relevant and non-privileged documents in response to Requests for Production Nos. 1 through 4 (as narrowed by Judge Gilbert and adopted by the District Court in its opinion) in Mr. Abubakar’s subpoena, by 12:00 p.m. (noon) CDT, on Monday, October 2, 2023.

“The Rule 30(b)(6) deposition of CSU’s corporate designee must be completed by 5:00 p.m. CDT on Tuesday, October 3, 2023,” the court ordered.

The judge warned that any request for stay of the judgement from Tinubu to her court would be denied, as she, however, said he is free to appeal her ruling at the Seventh Circuit Court.

The Judge had on Friday said Nigerians have shown interest in the case by bombarding her with multiple emails seeking to know the status of the case. She added that because of the public interest in the case, she would give a hasty ruling.

Atiku had told the US district court that he had up to October 5 to file the documents from the CSU against Tinubu at the Supreme Court.

Already, Atiku has an appeal pending at the Supreme Court challenging the verdict of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) which had dismissed his petition challenging the declaration of Tinubu by INEC as winner of the February 25 election.