Justice Nancy Maldonado has upheld the judgment of Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Gilbert in ordering Chicago State University to release President Bola Tinubu’s records to Atiku Abubakar.
Justice Maldonado made the ruling on Saturday, according to the docket posted by the District Court of the Northern District of Illinois.
This in effect means that President Tinubu’s appeal to stop the release of the documents had failed.
The Chicago State University will now proceed this week to release relevant non-privileged documents on Monday 2 October.
The deposition by CSU will take place on Tuesday 3 October.
Justice Maldonado in the 33 page ruling stated: “The court overrules President Tinubu’s objections to Magistrate Judge Gilbert’s recommended ruling and therefore adopts the ruling in full.
“Mr Abubakar’s application is therefore granted.
“In light of the pending Supreme Court of Nigeria deadline, represented to the court as October 5, 2023 and based on CSU’s representations that it is ready to comply with the discovery requests and produce a witness, the court sets an expedited schedule for completion of discovery.
“Respondent CSU is directed to produce all relevant and non-privileged documents in response to requests for Production Nos-1 through 4( as narrowed by Judge Gilbert and adopted here) in Mr. Abubakar’s subpoena by 12.00p.m(noon) CDT on Monday October 2, 2023. The Rule 30(b)( 6) deposition of CSU’s corporate designeee must be completed by 5.00pm CDT on Tuesday October 3, 2023.
“Given the October 5, 2023 filing deadline before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the court will not extend or modify these deadlines”
