A former lecturer at Chicago State University, Adedeji Doherty, has disputed President Bola Tinubu’s claim of attending the American institution, insisting that the Nigerian leader was never a student there.
Doherty made the allegation during an interview on News Central Television, where he also accused the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, of misrepresenting the facts while defending the President’s educational background.
The former lecturer said he worked at the university between 1985 and 1990, claiming that he headed the programme Tinubu was said to have attended and had access to records relating to the President’s academic history.
He further alleged that documents submitted by Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission contained the names of institutions the President did not attend.
Doherty said, “I used to be a lecturer at Chicago State University for five years. I was the director of the programme that Tinubu said he attended. I was there from 1985 to 1990.
“I can tell you now that he never attended Chicago State University, and he knows that I know.”
He also claimed that when inquiries were made about Tinubu’s academic records around 1999, officials approached him for information, which he said he provided. He, however, maintained that the controversy should be addressed through political accountability rather than what he described as institutional misconduct.
The former lecturer warned that the matter could attract international legal attention, while expressing confidence that Tinubu would face a difficult contest in the 2027 election.
He also criticised the Minister of Education for defending the President’s academic claims.
Doherty, who described the administration’s performance as disappointing, cited rising poverty, unemployment and insecurity as reasons Nigerians could vote for a change of government in 2027.
Tinubu had yet to respond to the latest allegations as of the time of the report.
