A Circuit Court in Cook County, Illinois, USA, has ruled in favor of President Bola Tinubu, dismissing a lawsuit filed by Atiku Abubakar, a presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2022 general elections.
Atiku’s suit had sought to obtain President Tinubu’s academic records from Chicago State University, where Tinubu claimed to have earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with honors.
Despite statements from Beverly Poindexter, responsible for official transcript requests and degree verification at the Office of the Registrar, CSU, confirming Tinubu’s academic achievement, some individuals still harbored doubts.
Atiku’s lawsuit, which aimed to subpoena the university for the records, was withdrawn by Atiku before the scheduled court hearing.
The Circuit Court’s ruling, dated Jumy 31, was delivered by Judge Patrick J. Heneghan.
The judge said he dismissed the case without prejudice, determining that Chicago State University would not be deposed under the subpoena.
Justice Heneghan emphasized that the dismissal resolves all pending matters related to the case, which had Atiku as the petitioner and CSU as the respondent.
In response to the developments, Victor Henderson, a prominent business litigation attorney in Chicago, released a statement on August 2, 2023.
Henderson highlighted that President Tinubu has been a distinguished graduate of Chicago State University for decades, known both locally and internationally.
He criticized Atiku Abubakar and his followers for attempting to access the President’s confidential educational records through an improper lawsuit, lacking due process and respect for privacy.
Henderson acknowledged the motive behind Atiku’s actions, suggesting that they aimed to tarnish the President’s reputation and influence an election outcome.
However, he underscored that the court rightfully dismissed the lawsuit filed by Atiku, adding that a senior official from Chicago State University reaffirmed Tinubu’s status as a respected alumnus.
In conclusion, the legal dispute regarding President Tinubu’s academic records has been resolved in favor of the President, with the court dismissing Atiku’s lawsuit without prejudice.
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