Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has taken legal action against President Bola Tinubu in the United States of America District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

The Special Assistant on Public Communications to Atiku Abubakar, Phrank Shaibu, confirmed this development on Sunday night, stating that the fresh suit, identified as No. 23-5099 (N. D. III.), prompted Atiku to withdraw a pre-existing case before a Circuit Court in Illinois.

Shaibu clarified that Atiku withdrew the previous case to pursue the same matter at a higher court to avoid any abuse of court processes. He emphasized that this is just the beginning of the legal action.

The focus of Atiku's suit is challenging Tinubu's academic records from primary school to university, which Atiku alleges to be in question. According to the statement, Tinubu has been unable to provide evidence of any former classmates from his primary, secondary, or university years, raising suspicions about his educational history.

The statement also draws attention to the ongoing ministerial screening at the Nigerian Senate, where nominees reveal their educational backgrounds, including their classmates. However, the statement points out that Tinubu, as the President who nominated the ministers, has no educational history and is unable to identify any former classmates. This lack of academic record is being called into question through legal channels.

The statement further contrasts Tinubu's approach to that of past presidents, who have invited their former classmates to official events. For instance, President Muhammadu Buhari hosted classmates from Katsina Middle School, while Tinubu's alleged inability to provide any classmates is a subject of concern in this case.