Chicago University confirms Tinubu’s certificate

The Chicago State University (CSU) has said that it has discovered President Bola Tinubu’s diploma certificates in its archives.

After searching its archives thoroughly, CSU claimed to have located diplomas that matched the certificate Tinubu provided to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

This came to light because Judge Nancy Maldonado had mandated that the university provide the records sought by Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Michael D. Hayes, the school’s attorney, released the findings to the public.

Following is an excerpt from a press release written by Hayes:

According to Atiku’s third demand, “true and correct copies of any diplomas issued by CSU (other than to Mr. Tinubu) that contain the same font, seal, signatures, and wording (other than the name of the recipient and the specific degree awarded) as Contained in Exhibit C to the First Liu Declaration,” which is purported to be a CSU diploma issued to Mr. Tinubu on or about June 22, 1979.

Hayes said, “The papers responsive to your request that CSU, after diligent search, has been able to discover are produced herewith and Bates labeled CSU 0008 through CSU 0010.

For purposes of student confidentiality, we have blacked out the students’ names from these diplomas.

According to Bates, “CSU is also producing, labeled as CSU 0011 and CSU 0012, diplomas prepared for other CSU students (with their names redacted for privacy) that match the format of the Tinubu replacement diploma dated June 27, 1997.”

Despite Atiku’s repeated requests, the institution has repeatedly stated that “it does not keep copies of students’ diplomas, talk less of the one issued in 1979.” Tinubu received his certificate in 1979.

Since “CSU does not in the ordinary course keep copies of student diplomas,” and “after diligent search,” it has been unable to track down a duplicate of the diploma it issued to Mr. Tinubu in 1979, the university states that it “has no documents responsive to this request.”

In an effort to disprove the Nigerian president’s claim that he attended CSU, Atiku had requested Tinubu’s academic transcripts.