Chicago University addresses discrepancies in Tinubu’s academic record
Chicago State University (CSU) has provided an explanation for the inconsistencies found in President Bola Tinubu’s academic records, according to a report by Peoples Gazette on Thursday.
During sworn testimony, CSU registrar Caleb Westberg cautiously suggested that a clerk who manually entered information into Mr. Tinubu’s credentials may be responsible for the inaccuracies within the records. In an affidavit submitted to the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, on July 24, Mr.Westberg stated, “The difference in the date of award on the diploma versus the certified copy is likely the result of human error… The graduation date on the certified copy is typed in manually by a person and can be inaccurate.”
READ ALSO: Lawyers blame university clerk for errors in President Tinubu academic records
Atiku Abubakar initially filed a case in a county court to obtain Mr. Tinubu’s academic records but later withdrew it in order to correctly file the suit in a federal court in Illinois, Chicago.
The deliberate use of the phrase “is likely” in the affidavit reflects the university’s uncertainty and may be interpreted as an attempt by the registrar to absolve himself of any potential wrongdoing if the court finds evidence of misconduct and decides to pursue charges against the institution.
In August 2022, CSU released Mr. Tinubu’s records to Nigerian lawyer Mike Enahoro-Ebah, who had requested the documents to put an end to rumors surrounding the then-presidential candidate.
The records showed that a female Bola Tinubu had graduated from CSU on July 27, 1979, a date the university now considers a clerical error and maintains that the correct date is July 22, 1979.
Judge Jeffrey Gilbert of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago had issued an ultimatum on August 23, requiring Mr. Tinubu to provide reasons as to why his CSU academic records should not be released to Mr. Abubakar, his main challenger in the February 25 polls.
In response, Mr. Tinubu’s legal team placed blame on the clerk for the inconsistencies, aligning with CSU’s stance on the matter.
The university’s decision to withhold the name of the implicated clerk has raised suspicions that there may be a cover-up at play.
Additionally, Mr. Abubakar’s lawyers may seize upon Mr. Westberg’s language, believing it suggests that the registrar is uncertain about his claim in the affidavit. They may use this uncertainty to support their argument at the presidential elections petitions tribunal in Abuja, Nigeria, where Mr. Abubakar seeks to nullify Mr. Tinubu’s presidency.
It is important to note that Chicago State University is actively working to address the discrepancies and provide transparency in the matter. The university and its registrar are committed to cooperating fully with the legal proceedings and ensuring that the truth prevails.