The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has vehemently refuted the forgery allegations directed at President Bola Tinubu by the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Keyamo dismissed the claims, asserting that the Chicago State University certificate submitted by Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was obtained through a third-party vendor.
In a statement made via his official X account on Sunday, Keyamo, the former chief spokesman of the dissolved Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, defended Tinubu against accusations of forgery and lying under oath. The Minister emphasized that the sentiments surrounding the President’s credentials were baseless and challenged Atiku and his supporters to produce evidence from the undisclosed vendor that issued the replacement certificate, denying its authenticity.
Keyamo, drawing on his extensive legal experience, outlined the principle that forgery must be proven by the purported maker of the document denying its authenticity or through uncontradicted evidence of a forensic report indicating deliberate alteration or concoction. He stressed that this responsibility lay with the accuser, asserting, “He who alleges must prove.”
Regarding the academic records provided by Atiku against Tinubu, which were obtained from the Chicago State University following an order from an Illinois court, Keyamo maintained that the noise surrounding the so-called forgery allegations was futile. He insisted that Tinubu was innocent and had no case to answer, comparing the situation to a similar defense he employed during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, expressed confidence in Tinubu’s innocence and sarcastically urged Atiku to exit politics gracefully. He stated, “Unfortunately for them, Tinubu is as clean and white as snow on this issue, and we are again waiting for them at the Supreme Court. As for Atiku Abubakar…we acknowledge the valedictory speech he delivered a few days ago signifying his retirement from politics, and we wish him Godspeed in that retirement.”
