Eko Hot Blog reports that Chicago State University has confirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu attended and graduated from the university in 1979, but cannot authenticate his diploma.
The university’s confirmation comes amid a legal battle in Nigeria over Tinubu’s academic qualifications. Tinubu’s opponent in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that Tinubu’s diploma is fake and that he should be disqualified from office.
At a hearing in Chicago this week, Abubakar’s lawyers asked a federal judge to compel CSU officials to turn over Tinubu’s academic documents and appear for depositions. The judge did not rule on the request.
A CSU spokeswoman said the university can confirm that Tinubu graduated, but cannot authenticate his diploma because it is a ceremonial document that is not part of a student’s official academic file.
CSU is also limited by federal law from releasing any further information about Tinubu’s academic records without his consent or a court order.
The university has issued a statement saying that it is confident in the veracity of its records and that it is complying with all applicable laws.
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 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 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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