President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should stop embarrassing Nigerians by his desperate bid to frustrate the release of his academic records from the Chicago State University (CSU), former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank has demanded

Frank in a statement in Abuja on Friday expressed dismay over what Tinubu is trying to hide that prompted him to hurriedly appeal the judgement of a US Magistrate Court that ordered CSU to release his academic records.

Tinubu, according to a report by Peoples Gazette, had pleaded before a United States judge to save him from suffering “severe and irreparable damage” by placing an emergency hold on a recent Court order for his university records to be released.

The President through his lawyer claimed that the damage he would suffer would be impossible to mitigate if the order directing the release of his academic records to former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is not delayed for possible vacation. 

According to the report, “Severe and irreparable harm will be done to Bola Tinubu if the records are released,” Tinubu’s lawyer had argued at an emergency appeal before Judge Nancy Maldonado of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago.

“If the records are released, harm will be done and cannot be taken back to the bottle,” Tinubu’s lawyer added.

“If you know you have clean academic records why are you fighting to stop their
being released?

“What ‘severe and irreparable harm’ will you suffer if the records are released?” Frank queried.

He insisted that due to Tinubu’s desperate acts in seeking to conceal his academic records and other legal issues surrounding his persona, most world leaders are now avoiding him and this has hampered his administration’s much publicized investments drive abroad.

“For instance, his much trumpeted proposed meeting with American President Joe Biden during the United Nations General Assembly in New York was silently cancelled with no explanations from either Tinubu or Biden.

“However, we have it on good authority that Biden was warned by the US intelligence community to avoid such a meeting.

“Besides, Tinubu claimed to have gotten Untied Arab Emirates (Dubai) authorities to lift visa restrictions on Nigerians but this has since been proven to be a lie.”

He called on Nigerians to own the fight to ensure that the President has authentic academic records and not to leave the efforts to an individual due to potential political and diplomatic damage it can do to Nigeria if glossed over.

Frank said: “This fight should not be for Atiku Abubakar alone. Nigerians must rise up and demand to know the academic records of their President.

“Tinubu’s desperate attempt to buy time with his recent appeal is a huge embarrassment to Nigerians both at home and in diaspora. Why does the court ordered release of Tinubu’s academic records appear like a matter of life and death to the President?

“Tinubu, please stop embarrassing Nigerians through this do or die attempt to stop your academic records from being released. Nigerians are eager to know who their President really is.

“The more you fight to conceal your academic records, the more you damage the image of the country and its ability to attract investors who want to do business with genuine and trustworthy partners and not those believed to have skeletons in their cupboards.

“Are Nigerians not entitled to know the authentic academic qualifications of their President?”

He called on the United States’ Government and its institutions to transparently adjudicate on this matter in the interest of Nigeria and not that of one man.

We demand the Chicago court to urgently hear this appeal and make its findings known without compromising the integrity of the American Court system.

****24 hour curfew declared following apprehension among residents

There was palpable apprehension in the ancient city of Kano on Wednesday after the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal invalidated the election of Alhaji Kabir Yusuf as governor of the state following claims that his declaration was not in compliance with the electoral act.

The All Progressives Congress, (APC) which was the ruling party in the state until May 29, 2023 had its second position upturned to first position by the tribunal on Wednesday after it deducted 165,663 votes from total votes scored by Governor Yusuf on the grounds that 165,663 ballot papers counted for the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP were not stamped or signed, hence, the tribunal declared them invalid votes and with that the APC candidate Nasiru Gawuna came top.

The tribunal ther3after ordered that the certificate of return issued to Yusuf be withdrawn and given to APC governorship candidate, Nasiru Gawuna.

The judgment was delivered virtually as the judges opted to use zoom following the tension that enveloped the state ahead of the judgment.

Governor Yusuf had on Friday sacked his Commissioner of Lands and Physical Planning, Adamu Kibiya, and the Special Adviser on Youth Development, Aliyu Yusuf-Imma after the duo was seen in a viral video threatening to kill judges if they upturned the election of Yusuf.

It was gathered that following the tribunal judgment that sacked the governor, traders in major markets in Kano immediately started locking up their shops and going home causing a panic.

Meanwhile a 24 hour curfew has been declared in Kano State following the judgment of the election petitions tribunal sacking the state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.

Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Usaini Gumel, in a statement he personally signed, said a combined team of security operatives have been dispatched across the city to enforce the curfew.

“In view of the Constitutional mandate of the Nigeria Police Force alongside the relevant Internal Security and Law Enforcement Agencies to preserve law and order in the State, the Kano State Police Command have mapped out strategies on that direction and call on the good people of the State to give the necessary confidence and supports.

“Going forward, Kano State residents are called upon to note that combined Security Forces have already been dispatched to the nooks and crannies including the entry and exits of the State to ensure enforcement and strict compliance of the Twenty-Four Hours (24hrs) Curfew order as communicated by the State Government via letter with Reference No: K/SEC/H/435/T.1/153 dated 20th September, 2023 taking effect from 6pm of Wednesday, 20th September to 6pm of Thursday, 21st September 2023.

“Violators will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

“Finally, I wish to appreciate all the peace-loving People of the State and urge them to remain law abiding as it’s in the best interest of all that we come together to maintain law and order in the State,” he said.

The Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, declaring the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the March 18 election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Yusuf, who contested on the platform of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), winner of the election.
While Nasir Gawuna, his APC rival, congratulated him, the party proceeded to court.

Stating reasons why the Kano governor was sacked, the panel said the margin of votes scored by NNPP was invalid and not in compliance with the 2022 electoral act.

The judges deducted 165,663 votes from the NNPP, adding that the ballot papers of the 165,663 were not stamped or signed and therefore declared invalid.

According to figures announced by INEC in the election, NNPP polled 1,019,602 votes while APC scored 890, 705 votes, leaving a difference of 128,897 votes.

But after voiding 165,663 ballot papers, NNPP votes dropped to 853,939, while APC remained at 890,705, leaving a difference of 36,766 votes in favour of APC.

All three grounds of the petition were resolved in favour of APC.

It was reported how the panel delivered the judgement via Zoom, and journalists, lawyers, party members and many others were denied access into the court.