CBS said: “As a school, we are sometimes asked to provide data about student files.
A federal law known as FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) protects the privacy of student records and limits what an institution can release”
Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Chicago State University (CSU) yesterday confirmed that President Bola Tinubu attended the university and graduated in 1979.
The university made the announcement in a statement to CBS Broadcasting Inc., referred to as CBS News, one of the largest and most popular news networks in the United States.
However, it is noted that United States federal law prohibits us from providing further information about Tinubu’s record without a warrant or unless authorized by a court order.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has accused that the documents that show Tinubu that he left Chicago in 1979 are not authentic and that he has cited this as the reason for his refusal to vote. of Tinubu became useless.
The certificate was issued in 1979 and signed by university president Elnora Daniel. But Daniel didn’t arrive at CSU until 1998 and left about a decade later.
Sending false data to the National Electoral Commission before the election should nullify the election, Atiku has said.
At a hearing in Chicago this week, Atiku’s lawyers asked a federal judge to compel CSU officials to turn over Tinubu’s academic papers and appear for comments. Judge Jeffrey Gilbert of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois did not rule on the question.
CSU’s attorney, Michael Hayes, told Gilbert that the university was not able to testify to Tinubu’s affidavit under oath.
A CSU spokesperson said the university could confirm that the president had graduated. However, the diploma cannot be verified because it is a formal document and not part of the student’s official student record.
Earlier this month, the Presidential Electoral Court rejected Atiku’s claim against Tinubu’s election on December 25. But the PDP presidential candidate continues to fight against the president’s educational achievements in Chicago.
The federal law, known as FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), protects the privacy of student records and limits what an institution can release.
“In August 2023, we filed a lawsuit in US federal court to provide the university with information related to educational records about Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian president, and the student. Formerly CSU.
“The university has confirmed that Tinubu went to CSU, and graduated in 1979 with a degree. However, federal law prohibits us from providing further information without authorization or unless authorized by a court order.
“CSU is confident in the honesty and integrity of our records regarding Tinubu’s completion of graduation requirements and qualifications. The University is not a party to the Nigerian legal process that raises this question, and a federal judge in the US will decide whether the University will provide the information requested further.
“Our response to the request for Tinubu’s academic records is in full compliance with our practices, policies, and federal law. We will respond in the same manner to any request for student information by a third party. ”
Statement from Chicago State University to CBS:
The federal law, known as FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), protects the privacy of student records and limits what an institution can release.
In August 2023, there was a request in the US federal court for the university to provide information related to educational records on Bola Tinubu, the president of Nigeria, and former CSU student. The university confirmed that Tinubu went to CSU and graduated in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree. However, federal law prohibits us from providing further information without authorization or unless authorized by a court order.