Mr. Jackson Udeh, a former aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, has alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to destroy all documents he, Tinubu, previously filed with the electoral body and still in its possession.
Mr. Udeh made the allegation in a post on his X handle, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday.
According to Udeh who cited an informant in the Presidency, Tinubu specifically ordered that all the documents and affidavits he filed to contest the governorship election in 1999 should be removed and destroyed.
This, he said, will enable INEC and the Presidency to deny the 1999 documents in circulation wherein Tinubu had claimed that he graduated from the University of Chicago and that his academic records were looted during a raid on his house by security operatives.
He further alleged that the president has delegated his Chief of Staff, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, to ensure that the directive is fully complied with.
The report also claimed that Prof. Yakubu is to “show evidence of the destructions”.
Read details of the post below:
“Bola Tinubu has ordered the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, to destroy all his previously filed documents in INEC’s possession.
“Specifically, all the 1999 documents and affidavits he had filed to contest the Governorship elections should be removed and destroyed, an informant in the Presidency has told me.
“This is to enable INEC and the Presidency to deny the 1999 documents circulating in the public where Tinubu had claimed he graduated from the University of Chicago and that his academic records were looted when his house was raided.
“Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila has been mandated to ensure he INEC chairman comply with the directive and show evidence of the destructions,” Udeh added.
Tinubu, it could be noted, is in a legal battle with the candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in a United States court.
Alhaji Abubakar had prayed the court to order the Chicago State University (CSU) to release all documents and paraphernalia related to Tinubu.
On his part, Tinubu had asked the court to refrain from such order, saying that it would cause irreparable damage to his person.
A United States High Court is billed to rule on the matter today, September 29, following Tinubu’s appeal, after a Magistrate Court ordered CSU to release the documents within 48 hours.
