Recall that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, had alleged that Bola Tinubu submitted a forged diploma certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ahead of the February 25 presidential election.
Following this claim, Atiku, the PDP candidate, applied to a US court to compel Chicago State University (CSU), to produce various documents, including a copy of the diploma certificate in question. The court granted Atiku’s request.
In a deposition made in compliance with the court order issued by Justice Nancy Maldonado of the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois on September 30, Westberg affirmed that the Bola Tinubu who attended and graduated from CSU is the same individual currently serving as the President of Nigeria.
The CSU registrar, in response to the court order, confirmed that the admission letter issued to Tinubu during his time at the university, between 1977 and 1979, clearly identified him as a male student.
During the proceedings, Michael Hayes represented CSU, and five other lawyers from Liu’s firm participated via a Zoom connection.
Lawyers Victor P. Henderson and Oluwole Afolabi appeared for Tinubu.
Clearing the air abut the certificate, Chicago State University (CSU), has maintained the validity of the diploma certificate submitted by President Bola Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
CSU’s Registrar, Caleb Westberg, emphasised that Tinubu indeed graduated from the institution on June 22, 1979.
The registrar said: “There were materials in Mr. Tinubu’s records that show that he was a male. I see the application to CSU. Mr. Tinubu identified himself as a male. His letter of admission identified him as a male. It says: ‘Dear Mr. Tinubu’
In the deposition, he said: “We believe Bola Tinubu who attended CSU is the same person who is the president of Nigeria today.”
On why he believes the person who is the president of Nigeria is the same person who attended CSU, Westberg said: “Tinubu is an unusual name in the US. He matched the records in the file against the information provided by the student or on behalf of the student.
”We believe Bola Tinubu who attended CSU is the same person who is the president of Nigeria today. The university only has diplomas that students didn’t pick up in its possession.”
On Tinubu’s gender when he enrolled in the school, the registrar explained: “Tinubu applied to the university as a male and a letter of admission was issued to a male.
On why Tinubu requested a diploma and not pick it up or ask that it be sent to him, the registrar said: “You would have to ask him.
“In the U.S., diplomas are considered merely ceremonial documents. In some other countries, it may be considered more.
”In the U.S., more reliance is placed on transcripts and not on Diplomas.”
Insisting that no interaction existed between him and Tinubu’s men, Westberg said: “Mr. Tinubu’s counsel did not prepare any affidavit for me. He didn’t draft anything for me.
“My statement that Mr. Bola Tinubu graduated from CSU was based on the transcripts in our possession.
“I have never met Bola Tinubu. I have never seen him. He did not visit our campus. He does not donate money to the school.”
On the replaced diploma, he said: “When there is a replacement diploma, it is done by outside vendors. I don’t know who created Exhibit # 6.
“The institution decided that my name should not be typed on the ‘To whom it may concern’ letter because of the sheer volume of requests I was getting.
“Before CSU, I was at UC, Berkeley and UC, Irving. I’m sure people make mistakes in data entry from time to time. Before this lawsuit, I didn’t know anyone Bola.
”It was possible that someone assumes Bola to be a female and therefore marked the Southwest transcript as such. I am familiar with the affidavit filed by Olajide Adeniji. I don’t recall his gender.
”I don’t know if Atiku Abubakar is male or female but I heard is a male. I can’t tell by his name. I checked the record and confirmed that Olajide Adeniji and Bola Tinubu were at CSU at the same time.
”The person (Olajide), said he ran in a closely-contested race against Bola Tinubu for the leadership of the Accounting Student Union.
“I see that he said the same person he ran against is now the president of Nigeria.
”The Bola Tinubu who attended Southwest College took Accounting courses. I see the address indicated for Bola Tinubu. It’s not far from CSU.
“I looked at the whole record in making the determination that the Bola Tinubu who is the president of Nigeria today is the same person who attended CSU.
“The entries’1952’ and ‘1954’ could have been made in error. The courses taken by Bola Tinubu at Southwest and CSU are consistent.
Westberg further clarified that any discrepancies in the date, font, signature, or seal between the initially issued certificate and the later certified copy are inconsequential and likely the result of human errors.
He made these statements in a seven-paragraph affidavit submitted to the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.
“Right after the entry ‘F’, the SSN entered indicated in the Southwest transcript is the same as the one that was indicated in CSU records. That is one of the indicia that we use to identify students. A social security is a unique identifier.
”I recognise Southwest College as a feeder school for CSU. Bola Tinubu graduated with Honours. It’s a GPA distinction. It is awarded to high performing students.
Accounting is a rigorous major. He graduated with Honours.
”As far as I know, he’s the president of Nigeria. There were materials in Mr. Tinubu’s records that show that he was a male. I see the application to CSU. Mr. Tinubu identified himself as a male.
”His letter of admission identified him as a male. It says:
‘Dear Mr. Tinubu’ I see the entry on APC’s website wherein President Bola Tinubu was said to have been born in Lagos on March 29, 1952. I don’t have a copy of the diploma that was submitted to INEC. So, I can’t comment on it.
”I am not aware of the fact that in the form that he submitted to INEC he claimed a different nationality or date of birth.
”Yes, our records show that he was born on March 29th. One has ‘1954’ while the other shows ‘1952’. From time to time, people do make mistakes when making such entries. We know Mr. Tinubu’s Social Security #. It’s contained in his records,” Westberg said.
The CSU Registrar pointed out that in the United States, diplomas are typically considered ceremonial documents, with greater reliance placed on transcripts rather than diplomas. Westberg also expressed his willingness to testify regarding the facts stated in the affidavit, as indicated in the affidavit marked: 2023 L. 006854.
The court documents reads: “Caleb Westberg, first being duly sworn, states that if called to testify in this matter, I am over eighteen years of age and could competently testify as to the facts contained herein, and do affirm as follows:
“I am employed as the Registrar of Chicago State University and am authorized to submit this Affidavit on its behalf.
“Bola Ahmed Tinubu graduated and was awarded a degree from Chicago State University on June 22, 1979.
“Chicago State University provided a diploma to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and subsequently provided a certified (or official) copy of that diploma.
“Both are valid and authentic diplomas of Chicago State University.
“There are certain differences between the diploma and the certified copy because all diplomas are signed by the current President/Board Chair.
“There are also differences in the font and seal on the diploma versus the certified copy because the University updated its font and seal after the diploma was issued.
“The difference in the date of award on the diploma versus the certified copy is likely the result of human error.
“The graduation date on the certified copy is typed in manually by a person and can be inaccurate.
“In the United States of America, institutions of higher education often consider the diploma to be a ceremonial document.
“The official records of Chicago State University reflect and verify that Bola Ahmed Tinubu graduated and was awarded a degree as stated above.”
