The Chicago State University (CSU), on Thursday, confirmed that President Bola Tinubu attended the institution and graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor’s degree.
In a statement issued to CBS Broadcasting Inc. (generally referred to as CBS News), one of America’s biggest and most influential news network, the institution pointed out that United States’ federal law, prevents it us from providing any further information about President Tinubu’s record, without consent or unless allowed to do so via court order.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, had alleged that documents showing that President Tinubu graduated from Chicago State in 1979 were not authentic, and had highlighted it as grounds to nullify latter’s election victory.
The certificate was issued in 1979, and signed by university President Elnora Daniel. But Daniel did not arrive at CSU until 1998 and left about 10 years later.
At a hearing in Chicago this week, Atiku’s lawyers asked a federal judge to compel the CSU officials to turn over President Tinubu’s academic documents and appear for depositions. Judge Jeffrey Gilbert of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois did not rule on the request.
CSU’s lawyer, Michael Hayes, told Judge Gilbert that the university would not be able to certify Prsident Tinubu’s diploma under oath.
A CSU spokeswoman said the university could confirm the President graduated. However, it cannot authenticate the diploma because it was a ceremonial document and not part of a student’s official academic file.
Earlier this month, the Presidential Election Petition Court had dismissed Atiku’s claim against President Tinubu’s 25th February election. But the PDP presidential candidate continues to fight the president’s academic results in Chicago.
But in the statement CSU issued to CBS on Thursday, the university explained: “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 to the 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.”
Chicago State University Statement to CBS
“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”.
Source: THISDAY
