A United States federal court has started moves to hasten the request of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to subpoena Chicago State University (CSU) for President Bola Tinubu’s academic records.
It was gathered that the court accelerated Atiku’s request upon learning that he has only two weeks to appeal the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal at the Supreme Court using the records.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago has, therefore brought the date closer for in-person arguments of the lawyers of Abubakar, Tinubu, and CSU from September 15 to September 12, citing “exigent circumstances” of the request.
Judge Jeffrey Gilbert of the court said: “Upon further reflection, in light of the exigent circumstances presented by the Application [1] and to account for the possibility of any appeal of the Court’s ruling.
“This matter is set for hearing in-person on 9/12/23 at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 1386.”
Gilbert urged lawyers on both sides of the matter to appear in court for the proceeding, with the docket indicating an imminent ruling during the week.
The judge said: “If out-of-town counsel wants to appear by telephone, they should contact the Court’s courtroom deputy. The Court’s preference, however, is for counsel who will be speaking at the hearing to appear in person.”
The court, to prevent delay, asked CSU to file any objections (if any) it might have against the scope of the requested records not later than 5:00 p.m. on September 11.
