It’s already a year since Chicago State University found itself at the center of a political dispute involving Bola Tinubu, otherwise generally known as T-Pain.
Chicago State University became embroiled in a political controversy surrounding Bola Tinubu.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, challenged the authenticity of documents claiming Tinubu graduated from the university in 1979, arguing that this could invalidate Tinubu’s election win.
According to the People’s Gazette, Tinubu submitted a diploma to Nigeria’s election commission, supposedly issued in 1979 and signed by Chicago State University President Elnora Daniel.
However, Daniel did not become president of CSU until 1998, casting doubt on the diploma’s authenticity.
Abubakar’s legal team contends that submitting false records to the commission should nullify the election.
During the week in Chicago, Abubakar’s lawyers requested a federal judge to order CSU to release Tinubu’s academic records and for university officials to testify.
Judge Jeffrey Gilbert of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois did not yet made a ruling.
CSU’s lawyer, Michael Hayes, stated that the university cannot verify the diploma under oath.
While a CSU spokesperson confirmed Tinubu’s graduation, they clarified that the diploma itself is a ceremonial document, not part of the official academic record.
Earlier in the year, Nigeria’s Presidential Election Petition Court rejected Abubakar’s challenge to Tinubu’s February 25 election victory.
However, Abubakar continues to fight the results here in Chicago.
Chicago State has issued this statement:
“As an educational institution, we are sometimes asked to provide information related to student records. Federal law known as FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) protects the privacy of student records and limits what an institution can release.
“In August 2023, a request was made in a U.S. federal court for the university to provide information related to educational records concerning Bola Tinubu, the President of Nigeria, and a former CSU student.
“The university has confirmed that Tinubu attended CSU and graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree. Federal law, however, prevents us from providing any further information without consent or unless allowed to do so via court order.
“CSU is confident in the veracity and integrity of our records regarding Tinubu’s completion of graduation requirements and degree certificate. The university is not a party to the Nigerian legal proceedings that spurred this request, and a U.S. federal judge will determine whether the university will provide further requested information.
“Our response to the request for Tinubu’s academic records has been entirely consistent with our practices, policies, and federal law. We would respond in exactly the same manner for any request for any student information by a third party.
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