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What We Sought Was A Review And Not An Appeal – Coordinator Of Tinubu Presidential Legal Team, Babatunde Ogala Makes Fresh Revelations On US Judge Ruling Ordering Chicago State University To Release Tinubu’s Academic Records To Atiku

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Bola Tinubu Atiku Abubakar

What We Sought Was A Review And Not An Appeal – Coordinator Of Tinubu Presidential Legal Team, Babatunde Ogala Makes Fresh Revelations On US Judge Ruling Ordering Chicago State University To Release Tinubu’s Academic Records To Atiku

Bola Tinubu Atiku Abubakar

United States District Judge Nancy Maldonado has approved a temporary halt on the order compelling Chicago State University to provide President Bola Tinubu’s academic records to the legal team of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

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The hearing took place late Thursday night after the president’s legal representatives filed an emergency motion requesting a postponement of the self-executing order, which mandated CSU to comply with Atiku’s subpoenas until Monday.

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Earlier in the week, Magistrate Jeffrey Gilbert had directed Tinubu’s alma mater to furnish all pertinent and non-privileged documents to Atiku within a two-day timeframe. The documents sought by Atiku’s legal team, led by Angela Liu, encompass records of admission, enrollment periods, degrees, accolades, and distinctions earned by the former Lagos State governor while at the university, among other details.

However, the president’s legal counsel contended that Gilbert’s initial ruling needed to be reassessed by a district judge. Coordinator of Tinubu’s Presidential Legal Team, Babatunde Ogala, clarified that their objective was a review, not an appeal, contrary to media reports. Ogala further highlighted that the US magistrate lacks the authority to issue a directive mandating the release of non-privileged information by the university; he can only provide a recommendation.

“As I am talking to you, I am in America and on top of this matter. Our people are just making issues out of nothing. What did the magistrate do? I think we need to understand the American procedure. The magistrate is to make a recommendation to the district judge and not to give a final order. No, he cannot. He has no such power. And that is what we are saying to the district judge. They are to make a recommendation, which must be within 48 hours.

“In anyway, what is the issue here? Whatever you said you wanted, the court said ‘release non-privileged’. After all, they have confirmed that the man attended their school, and got his letter of admission as well as first, second, third, and fourth semester results. They have admitted it is their certificate, and you (court) are now coming to say they should release the information. For what exactly? They brought his application for admission.

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“What we are even saying is this. We are not filing an appeal but asking for a review against Monday for the judge to pronounce. We are providing the judge with additional information to say the person they have granted this order was granted purportedly because he said that he wants to use it to pursue his litigation in Nigeria. There is nothing to appeal as it does not show anything to suggest that he is bringing anything from America. Is that not fraudulent? That’s our contention,” he said.

Shortly after Ogala’s conversation with The Punch, his plea for a review and extension of the order until Monday was approved by the US district judge.

During the emergency hearing, Maldonado assured that she would expedite her ruling, considering the legal timelines in Nigeria.

She said, “I will have a busy weekend. The issue is of process and rules. I’m a rule person. That’s why I’m a judge. This case is quite involved. I am aware of the stakes. It’s more important to me to get this right.”

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