President Bola Tinubu has filed a motion to dismiss a subpoena before the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Chicago, USA, to defend a new petition by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last general elections, Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku had filed the petition seeking to obtain further details of Tinubu’s academic records at the Chicago State University.
Atiku, through his counsel, Angela M. Liu, demanded a record of Tinubu’s admission and acceptance at the university, dates of attendance, including degrees, awards and honours attained by the president at the university, among others.
Atiku told the court that Tinubu’s subpoena was to test the truth and veracity of president’s assertions, maintaining that he is currently occupying Nigeria’s top position and facing various court proceedings as regards his election and the authenticity of documents relating to his attendance at Chicago State University.
In response to the petition, Tinubu’s counsel, Victor P. Henderson, on July 19, asked the court to strike it out as no judge of the court heard and granted Atiku the subpoena.
Henderson argued that the petition was presumptive 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 Rules.
He also said Atiku engaged himself in an “improper fishing expedition about a foreign public official utilising the Illinois court’s subpoena power.”
