Chicago State University: Certificate Tinubu submitted to INEC not our document

 

The authenticity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Diploma Certificate, which he claimed to have obtained from Chicago State University (CSU), continues to be a subject of controversy. Tinubu had used this certificate to secure clearance for his participation in the 2023 presidential election under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a recent development, Mr. Carl Westberg, a high-ranking official of CSU and the university's Registrar, made a significant revelation. He stated under oath that the replacement copy of the Diploma certificate submitted by Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not issued by the institution. Westberg testified as a subpoenaed witness in accordance with an order from Judge Nancy Maldonado. This testimony was in support of the court's directive to release Tinubu's academic records to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Atiku had challenged the APC candidate's victory in the February 25, 2023 presidential election on various grounds, including the allegation that Tinubu had submitted forged documents to INEC to qualify for the election.

To substantiate his claim, Atiku sought a court order in the United States compelling CSU to release Tinubu's academic records for verification and authentication. The U.S. court granted Atiku's request, and as part of the compliance with the court's order, Westberg testified under oath.

During his testimony, Westberg indicated that the Diploma certificate, which Tinubu claimed to have obtained from CSU and used for his electoral clearance, was not an authentic document of the university. He even noted discrepancies, such as the absence of a board of trustees at the institution in 1979, contrary to what Tinubu's certificate stated.

Moreover, when questioned about the signatures on other certificates issued in 1979 compared to the one Tinubu submitted to INEC, Westberg acknowledged variations in signature, logo, and seal. Specifically, he pointed out that the signature on the replacement certificate matched those on certificates issued in the 1990s, not the 1979 certificates as claimed by the President.

As a result of this testimony, a certified true copy of the deposition and cross-examination is expected to be provided to Atiku. This evidence is crucial in further substantiating his allegation of forgery against Tinubu.

It's worth noting that the final phase of Atiku's case, seeking the disqualification of Tinubu from the 2023 presidential election, is currently pending before the Supreme Court of Nigeria.