The Presidential Election Tribunal has admitted the certificates from Chicago State University and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as evidence against President Bola Tinubu. The admission of these documents took place during the ongoing tribunal proceedings regarding the outcome of the presidential election held on February 25.
The certificates were presented as exhibits and admitted by the tribunal panel, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, after being tendered by a human rights activist and public interest litigator, Mr. Mike Enahoro-Ebah. Enahoro-Ebah appeared as a star witness in support of the petition filed by Mr. Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), seeking to challenge the validity of the election results.
Enahoro-Ebah, the 27th witness in the case, informed the tribunal that he had obtained the Form EC9, which contained the affidavit of personal particulars submitted by Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in support of his qualification for the presidential election.
During his testimony, Enahoro-Ebah, under the guidance of Atiku’s lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, revealed that he had obtained additional information about Tinubu’s educational background, particularly his claim of acquiring a degree from Chicago State University. He presented a certificate allegedly belonging to a female and a transcript from South West College in 1977, suggesting that the individual named Bola Tinubu, who attended Chicago State University, was a female.
Furthermore, Enahoro-Ebah disclosed that documents obtained from INEC indicated that Tinubu’s NYSC certificate bore the name “Adekunle.” These revelations raised questions regarding Tinubu’s consistency in disclosing accurate information about his academic qualifications and personal identity.
Despite objections from the INEC, President Tinubu, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the tribunal admitted the Chicago State University and NYSC certificates as evidence, marking them as crucial exhibits in the case.
Following the admission of the evidence, the tribunal temporarily adjourned the proceedings until 3 pm to allow President Tinubu’s legal team, led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, and the APC’s legal team, led by Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to cross-examine the witness.
The joint petition filed by Atiku Abubakar and the PDP alleges inconsistencies in Tinubu’s date of birth, secondary school attended (Government College Ibadan), state of origin, gender, actual name, and the authenticity of his Chicago State University degree. Furthermore, they assert that Tinubu failed to disclose his acquisition of Guinean citizenship and the possession of a Guinean passport, in addition to his Nigerian citizenship.
The tribunal proceedings will continue as President Tinubu’s legal team and the APC’s legal team prepare to challenge the evidence presented against their client.
