Nigeria's Ambassador to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has challenged journalists to independently investigate President Bola Tinubu's academic records at Chicago State University, dismissing fresh allegations that the President never attended the institution.
Omokri's reaction followed claims by Dr Pearse Adetokunbo, a former lecturer at the American university and the Peoples Democratic Party's 2027 Lagos governorship candidate, that Tinubu was never a student there.
Pearse made the allegation during an interview on News Central Television's Breakfast Central programme on Sunday, claiming that he taught at the institution between 1985 and 1990 and directed the programme Tinubu reportedly attended.
"The fact of the matter is, I know he never attended Chicago State University," Pearse said.
He also accused the President of misrepresenting his educational history in documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, describing him as a "professional crook".
However, Omokri, reacting in a post on his official X account on Monday, said he had personally visited Chicago State University and verified Tinubu's admission, attendance and graduation.
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He wrote, "I went to @ChicagoState University and proved that President Tinubu was admitted, attended, and graduated from there."
The ambassador urged Nigerian journalists to conduct independent investigations rather than rely on claims made during television interviews.
"I urge Nigerian journalists not to sit in studios peddling gossip, but to also go to Chicago, as I did, and verify," he added.
The latest exchange has revived questions about the President's academic qualifications, which became a major issue during the 2023 presidential election.
However, records previously released by Chicago State University in response to a legal request by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar showed that Tinubu attended the institution and graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.
The university's registrar, Caleb Westberg, also testified in a United States court that Tinubu studied and graduated from the institution.
Tinubu's Form EC9 submitted to INEC similarly lists Chicago State University as the institution where he obtained his degree in June 1979.
Pearse's stated teaching period of 1985 to 1990 was several years after Tinubu's recorded attendance and graduation.
The renewed controversy also comes amid conflicting claims about the classification of Tinubu's degree. Education Minister Tunji Alausa had recently described the President's degree as a first-class qualification, although the university records cited in the earlier legal proceedings confirmed his degree and major without stating that he graduated with first-class honours.
The fresh allegations have been disputed by Chicago State University's previously released records. The institution confirmed in 2023 that Tinubu attended between August 1977 and June 1979 and graduated with a bachelor's degree.
However, the university's registrar, Caleb Westberg, also testified that the institution could not authenticate the particular diploma submitted by Tinubu to INEC as a document it issued in 1979.
Pearse's latest allegations have therefore reopened questions about the President's academic documents, particularly the distinction between his recorded attendance and graduation and the authenticity of the certificate submitted to the electoral commission.
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