A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Wahab Shittu, said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) case involving Atiku Abubakar against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the February 25 election may have collapsed completely.
Despite the release of Atiku’s educational results as ordered by Justice Nancy Maldonado of the Northern District of Illinois Court, USA, Shittu believes this does not alter the likely outcome of the case.
Atiku’s application sought four categories of documents from Chicago State University (CSU), which confirmed Tinubu’s graduation in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Shittu gave six reasons he contended that the release of the academic records of President Tinubu might be of no effect.
According to the erudite senior lawyer, aside from the fact that CSU exists, there is proof that President Tinubu attended the institution, stressing that his claim is not a fabrication.
Shittu said another positive point is that Chicago State University has confirmed it issued certificates to President Tinubu as a consequence of his attendance at the school.
He said: “The constitutional requirements for qualification to aspire for the presidency is at least school certificate level or its equivalent. The three diplomas issued by the university satisfy this requirement.”
He also noted that the university has not denied issuing the certificate issued to the president in 1979 adding that “the school merely says it does not keep duplicate copies of issued certificates.
“That is an administrative and internal arrangement of the University for which President Tinubu cannot be held responsible.”
“Lastly, a case of forgery against President Tinubu was not established. It collapsed.”
Shittu argued that the distortions being made are of no moment and listed issues which he said are Germaine in the matter.
“There are three issues here. Is President Tinubu qualified to run by constitutional provisions? The answer is yes.
“Did President Tinubu forge a Chicago State University certificate? The answer is No.
“Did he attend Chicago State University? The answer is Yes.”
Shittu said the ongoing media war on the matter is of no consequence as cases are not decided on social media.
The SAN further noted that Abubakar’s motives in the matter are twofold but that both motives have collapsed.
He said Abubakar’s intention was first to show that President Tinubu never attended Chicago State University as he claimed.
He said the second was to show that President Tinubu forged a certificate from Chicago State University.
Shittu added: “The sole aim is to get President Tinubu disqualified so that Atiku can assume the presidential seat since he came second in the presidential race.”
