Amid rising controversy, President Bola Tinubu’s submitted certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been identified as unauthentic by Chicago State University (CSU). This revelation has led to public demands for the Supreme Court of Nigeria to take action against him.
CSU’s registrar, Caleb Westberg, confirmed that the institution didn’t issue the certificate, dated June 22, 1979, and given to INEC on June 17, 2022. As reported by Peoples Gazette, this statement has fueled conversations on social media, with many referring to Section 137 (1)(j) of the Nigerian Constitution. This section explicitly says that presenting a forged certificate to INEC disqualifies an individual from holding the presidency.
Lawyer Abdul Mahmood weighed in, emphasizing that the CSU revelations might lead the Supreme Court to act, given the clear provisions in the Constitution. Social media users have been vocal about the implications, noting that forging certificates in Nigeria is punishable by up to 14 years imprisonment.
However, Mr. Tinubu, who won the February 25 presidential election, has faced various controversies, including these allegations of forgery. Earlier this year, the presidential election petitions tribunal validated Tinubu’s victory despite objections from opponents like Atiku Abubakar.
Mr. Atiku had sought court permission to review Mr. Tinubu’s CSU documents to address evident inconsistencies in his background. In response, Mr. Tinubu tried to prevent a U.S. federal court from disclosing his academic records. While Mr. Tinubu highlighted potential harm from releasing these details, the Court favored Mr. Atiku’s petition, resulting in CSU’s recent revelation.
Should the Supreme Court take action, Mr. Tinubu would make history as the first Nigerian president removed by the Court due to certificate forgery.
