Abati questions former CSU lecturer’s authority in fresh Tinubu certificate dispute [VIDEO]

Arise TV anchor faults Pearse Adetokumbo’s allegation that Tinubu never attended CSU, questions his knowledge of university records and ICC jurisdiction.

Veteran journalist and Arise Television anchor, Reuben Abati, has challenged claims by Dr Pearse Adetokumbo, a former lecturer at Chicago State University (CSU), that President Bola Tinubu did not attend the institution, questioning the academic basis and authority behind the allegation.

Abati raised the concerns on Monday during Arise TV’s Morning Show, following Adetokumbo’s appearance on News Central, where he claimed that Tinubu never attended the American university and suggested that the controversy surrounding the President’s academic qualifications could eventually reach the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The exchange has renewed attention on the long-running controversy over Tinubu’s educational records as political discussions gather momentum ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Questioning the former lecturer’s claims, Abati argued that his teaching experience in Linguistics and Literature did not automatically qualify him to speak authoritatively about the academic records of students who graduated from the university’s Accounting department.

He specifically questioned how Adetokumbo, who reportedly retired as a lecturer in Linguistics and Literature, could have supervised Tinubu’s academic programme or had direct responsibility for records relating to Accounting graduates.

“How does teaching English and Literature for five years at Chicago State University mean being a supervisor in Accounting?” Abati asked.

The Arise TV anchor also argued that spending five years at an institution did not automatically make a former lecturer an authority on its entire student population or a custodian of graduates’ academic records.

His objection focused on the distinction between having worked at a university and having direct knowledge of a particular department’s admissions, academic activities and graduation records.

However, whether Adetokumbo had access to relevant institutional information or possessed other evidence supporting his claim cannot be determined solely from the academic department in which he taught. His allegation would require independent verification against official university records and other documentary evidence.

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ICC claim raises jurisdiction questions

Abati also criticised Adetokumbo’s suggestion that Tinubu’s certificate controversy could end up before the ICC, describing the statement as evidence of a misunderstanding of the international court’s jurisdiction.

The ICC is established to prosecute individuals for specific international crimes, including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. It is not a general tribunal for resolving disputes over university attendance, academic qualifications or certificate authenticity.

Consequently, any attempt to bring an academic credentials dispute before the court would have to meet the strict requirements of its jurisdiction and subject-matter mandate.

The former lecturer’s suggestion, therefore, raises a separate legal question from the underlying dispute over Tinubu’s educational history.

Adetokumbo’s comments came after the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said Tinubu graduated from Chicago State University with a first-class degree in Accounting.

The minister’s statement has added another dimension to public debate over the President’s academic credentials, particularly the need to distinguish between official institutional records, government statements and claims made by individuals who previously worked at the university.

The latest exchange highlights the importance of relying on verifiable documentary evidence rather than assumptions based on former employment or public office.

While Abati has challenged Adetokumbo’s authority to make definitive claims about Tinubu’s Accounting records, the central issue remains whether the available records from Chicago State University conclusively establish the President’s attendance, academic history and qualification.

Neither the former lecturer’s allegation nor Abati’s criticism, on its own, settles that question. The university’s authenticated records remain the most direct source for resolving claims about Tinubu’s academic history.