Business Post Contributor
By Busayo Cole
Recent developments indicate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu submitted a forged certificate from Chicago State University (CSU) to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) while contesting for the 2023 presidential election.
In the midst of these falsifications and the continuous change of narratives regarding President Tinubu’s supposed academic qualifications for the presidential position, it’s both reassuring and necessary to see proper legal actions being taken.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has stepped forward with a significant move that can rectify the manipulated election results. He filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court, Illinois, advocating on behalf of Nigeria. This court order seeks to compel the disclosure of President Bola Tinubu’s academic records from Chicago State University.
In response to this court order, on Tuesday, 3rd of October, the registrar at Chicago State University (CSU), Caleb Westberg, revealed under oath that the university never issued the certificate of attendance presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the United States District Court, Illinois.
The registrar’s statement in court followed the university’s release of the president’s academic records on October 2nd — these records stated that Bola Tinubu was never issued a certificate of attendance.
The evidence presented during the legal proceedings has effectively confirmed the widespread rumours about his fraudulent rise to the top position in the country.
We are well-acquainted with President Tinubu’s fraudulent ascent to power right from his gubernatorial campaign in 1999. With the country’s judiciary system seemingly under his influence, he has evaded every allegation against him.
Time and again, he has boldly disregarded the trust of Nigerians, usurping power by falsifying essential documents and lying about his age. In the 1999 Lagos State gubernatorial election, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) delved into the depths of the matter, unearthing compelling evidence that asserted Tinubu’s use of forged educational certificates during his campaign, questioning his eligibility for the Governor’s office.
Regrettably, due to Tinubu’s political influence and the shortcomings of our judiciary system at the time, he successfully concealed this evidence from the public eye.
The evidence gathered against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu collectively demonstrates that from his gubernatorial campaign in the 1999 Lagos State election to the present day, President Tinubu has consistently employed fraudulent methods to attain and maintain power.
Since 1999, when these allegations were first raised, President Tinubu has tried to conceal these claims. However, they continued to persist. Nigerians had hoped he would dispel these rumours by presenting legitimate certificates to support his educational claims. Unfortunately, he ended up substantiating the rumours further, as each year, more evidence against his claims emerged.
The academic records presented by the registrar of Chicago State University unequivocally expose the deep-seated flaws within our political system. President Tinubu’s deception not only misled the Independent National Electoral Committee but also, following the Nigerian Constitution (Amended in 2010), his victory should be invalidated and classified as a criminal offence.
Forgery and impersonation are both criminal offences, as stated in the Nigerian Constitution (amended in 2010). Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution classifies a victory in the presidential election as illegitimate if the candidate submits a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to Section 468 of the Criminal Code Act in the Constitution, a person who intentionally and deceitfully presents a false document, writing, or a fake seal commits an offence of the exact nature and is subject to the same penalties as if they had forged the item in question.
Thanks to the legal actions taken by Atiku Abubakar, the recently released academic records could aid the ongoing legal battle challenging the President’s electoral victory.
Although our trust in the judiciary is almost dead and buried, we see these revelations as a chance to remind them of their duty to ensure a fair and just verdict in the ongoing court case, as promised in their oath of office.
This revelation has also brought his lies and deception into the international spotlight. It underscores the vital significance of honesty and transparency within the nation’s highest office. Using a forged certificate goes against every standard of legal conduct and ethical governance.
These revelations of a forged certificate and a history of deception collectively depict a man unfit for the presidency. President Tinubu’s forged educational credentials and history of using fraudulent means to seize power throughout his political career raise significant concerns about his leadership competence.
The implications of his forgery extend beyond questions of legitimacy and integrity. The Nigerian Constitution clearly defines the submission of forged certificates as a criminal offence.
In light of these revelations, it remains uncertain how President Tinubu’s leadership and political career will weather this storm of controversy. One thing, however, is undeniable: the pursuit of truth and accountability in leadership is paramount, and the Nigerian people rightfully demand transparency and adherence to the rule of law from their elected officials.
On a lighter note, even the PPRO of Delta State seems to agree with the public that forging a document is a criminal act. Not him deleting because his supreme commander is guilty of it.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are purely of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the position of Business Post Nigeria on the subject matter.
