Following the release of President Bola Tinubu’s academic records by the Chicago State University, Kalu Kalu, a lawyer representing Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, has made allegations that Tinubu submitted a counterfeit degree certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the elections.
Kalu, who spoke in a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, contended that despite Tinubu and his supporters vehemently denying the allegations, the documents obtained from Chicago State University support the claims of forgery.
He pointed out several discrepancies, including the use of a female name on the qualifying certificate from South West College to Chicago State University, indicating that the document may not belong to Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Additionally, he said that the admission form from Chicago State University suggests that Tinubu attended Government College Lagos and graduated in 1970, even though the school was established in 1974.
“The document indicates that the certificate’s owner is a black American, contradicting Tinubu’s claim of not having dual citizenship. Finally, there is an inconsistency between the name “Ahmed” on the document from Chicago State University and “Adekunle” on the NYSC certificate submitted to INEC,” Kalu argued.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is seeking to overturn Tinubu’s election through legal means after the Presidential Election Tribunal dismissed his petition. As part of this effort, he initiated a case in the United States to obtain the President’s academic records, which have now become a subject of controversy.
Kalu emphasized that the Supreme Court, under established legal principles, allows for the introduction of fresh evidence under certain conditions, which he believes have been met in this case.
He asserted that a party found to be at fault should not be permitted to benefit from its illegality according to the law.
