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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
President Bola Tinubu has filed a motion to quash a subpoena before the Circuit Court of Cook County in Illinois, Chicago, United States, against a fresh petition filed by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku had on July 11, 2023 filed a petition seeking to obtain further details of Tinubu’s academic records at the Chicago State University.
The former vice president, through his counsel, Angela M. Liu, sought documents including record of Tinubu’s admission and acceptance at the university, dates of attendance, degrees, awards and honours attained, among others.
He told the court that the “subpoena was to test the truth and veracity of Tinubu’s assertions,” adding that he is currently the President of Nigeria and “he is facing various court proceedings concerning his election and the authenticity of documents relating to his attendance at Chicago State University.”
But in a reply filed on July 19, Tinubu through his counsel, Victor P. Henderson, asked the court to strike out the subpoena as no judge of the court heard and granted Atiku the order.
He contended that the petition was presumed invalid for providing only six days for compliance, which was less than 14 days provided under Rules 219 and 137 of the Illinois Supreme Court.
He said Atiku engaged himself in an “improper fishing expedition about a foreign public official utilising the Illinois court’s subpoena power.”