The APC Presidential Flag Bearer Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu-My Certificates Were Stolen By Unknown Persons

As mandated by the Nigerian constitution, the personal details of the 16 presidential candidates and their running mates who will be standing for the February 25, 2023 election, were published by The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday.

This act is to enable members of the public to verify the claims made by the candidates about themselves and qualification for election.

The publication that concerns the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has predictably attracted intense interest. Bola Ahmed Tinubu claimed that his certificates were stolen after he was forced into exile by the military dictatorship of the late Sani Abacha.

Mr Tinubu also did not attach the certificates for his tertiary education and gave no information on his primary and secondary education. 

He however sworn to an affidavit attached to the INEC form.

He wrote in the affidavit: “I went on self-exile from October 1994 to October 1998. When I returned, I discovered that all my property, including all the documents relating to my qualifications and my certificates in respect of paragraph three above, were looted by unknown persons.

“My house was a target of series of searches by various security agents from the time the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was forced to adjourn following the military takeover of government of 17th November 1993.

"I was the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, banking and finance. I was also a plaintiff in one of the two suits against the interim national government in 1993.

“I went on exile when it became clear to me that my life was in danger,” Mr Tinubu said in his claim.

These were the same claim of loss of certificates in his filings with INEC in 1999 and 2003 when he ran for governor of Lagos State. However, he had stated in 1999 that he attended St Paul Children’s Home School, Ibadan, from 1958 to 1964 and Government College, Ibadan (GCI) from1965 to 1968 before proceeding to Richard Daley College, Chicago, from 1969 to 1971 and the University of Chicago.

Below is an extract from Mr Tinubu's claim, made in 1999:

"On the 29th day of December, 1999, at the Ikeja High Court, Lagos State, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu swore to an affidavit wherein he deposed that he attended University of Chicago from 1972-1976 and Chicago State University from 1977-1979 and obtained Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics, qualified as certified public accountant.

“On the 28th day of December, 1999, at Ikeja High Court, Lagos state, Senator BAT swore to an affidavit attached to INEC Form CF 001 which Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu submitted, wherein he deposed that he attended;

“(A) Government College, Ibadan, from 1965 to 1968.

(B) Richard Daley College, Chicago Illinois, USA from 1969 to 1971.

(C) University of Chicago from 1972 to 1976

(D) Chicago State University from 1977 to 1979.

The reactions of the media and some of the opposition parties so far indicate that the development may promptly escalate into another controversy.