Admin I Monday, Oct. 09, 2023
LAGOS, Nigeria – Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba has come under severe public scrutiny for calling for a half on public debate on revelations trailing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Chicago State University, (CSU) certificate.
The SAN had on his twitter page posited that cacophony of discordant voices on Tinubu/Atiku over the certificate matter is completely out of hand.
“This utter nonsense from armchair lawyers is heating up Nigeria dangerously. Please can we keep our opinions and views to ourselves awaiting a decision of the Supreme Court”, he said, stressing that he is ashamed to see Lawyers on Television arguing one way or the other on the merits or demerits of the Chicago State University matter.
Agbakoba also called on the NBA to call out lawyers for breaching rules of practice.
“This is most unhelpful! I call out all media that tolerate this nonsense of adjudicating the CSU matter on TV and Newspapers. I urge the President of the Nigerian Bar Association to call out lawyers that breach rules of ethics by turning the media into a Court of Law”, he said, and requested Nigerians to allow the Supreme Court of Nigeria to make a pronouncement on the matter.
“Let us allow the Supreme Court of Nigeria to make a judicial pronouncement which is binding on us all!!!! This public nonsense must stop. – OA”, he said.
Umar Sani replied Agbakoba saying he is beginning to have a rethink about the personality and position of the SAN.
“With due respect Sir I had always tenaciously held the view that you’re on the side of truth and I had no cause to doubt you or change my mind. However this your current position is not only giving me a cause for concern but enabling some goose pimples all over me.
“This is a matter subject to national debate as it has been in the public space from time immemorial. Ten issues as findings from the deposition by the CSU at the district court of Illinois are germane to this national consciousness. Subjecting findings from a deposition which is in the public space must be reduced to further public scrutiny.
“This is without prejudice to the power of the courts to adjudicate on the matter. 1. The CSU registrar Caleb Westberg had indicated inconsistencies in the certificate being paraded as emanating from their school.
“ 2. That @officialABAT never received or requested for a replacement certificate from them 3. The certificate contained board of trustees which was alien to the university in 1979 4.
“In 1999 @officialABAT submitted to INEC that he graduated in govt college Ibadan and in southwest college he claimed to have graduated from the University of lagos 5.
“That he graduated from govt college Lagos in 1970 when the school only came into existence in 1974 6. His NYSC discharge certificate bore Adekunle and not Ahmad 7. That he was a US citizen contrary to his claim of being only a Nigerian 8. Conflicting date of birth of 1952 and 1954.
“9. The transcript that he used to gain admission into the CSU belonged to a female 10. Caleb categorically stated that the school did not issue the certificate he submitted to INEC.
“Sir with this in mind and learning from previous experience in the PEPC judgement where Festus Keyamo postulated an argument stating that the account of @officialABAT was what was fined and not himself which later surfaced in the final judgement galvanized citizens to jettison calls of your nature . As a senior citizen and ex NBA president, you cannot afford to be neutral, are you on the side of the people or that of the government? Thank you Sir”, he queried.
The Duke of IleIfe said: “If you could recall my submission on your space last night sir, I predicted these folks to start coming out from today to try to gaslight and change the whole narrative, here you go!!!!
“Festus was yesterday and Agbakoba today, we should expect faz father tomorrow and many more as we get close to the Supreme Court judgement. Nigeria is a crime scene”, he added.
