SUNTV Global Channel | August 14, 2026
The political and legal controversy surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic credentials and a decades-old U.S. forfeiture case has taken a new international turn after a lawyer associated with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s legal team petitioned the European Commission in Brussels.
The petition was reportedly submitted by Barrister Kalu Kalu, who is seeking the attention of European institutions over what he described as concerns about Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
Atiku’s media aide, Paul Ibe, disclosed the development in a post on X on Friday, stating that Kalu had submitted the petition in Brussels.
According to Ibe, the petition raises allegations concerning documents attributed to Tinubu and submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as the 1993 U.S. civil forfeiture involving approximately $460,000 in connection with a drug investigation.
Speaking to journalists after submitting the petition, Kalu alleged that Tinubu’s documents raised constitutional concerns and accused the President of undermining Nigeria’s constitutional order.
Kalu specifically referred to Section 137(1)(j) of the Nigerian Constitution and argued that the submission of a false certificate to INEC could affect a candidate’s eligibility to contest for the presidency.
He further alleged that documents submitted to INEC did not adequately identify Tinubu’s primary and secondary schools and claimed that the President had submitted false documents.
Kalu said the petition was intended to draw the attention of European institutions to what he described as threats to constitutional democracy in Nigeria.
However, the allegations remain claims by Kalu and have not been established as facts by the European Commission or a court in connection with this latest petition.
The controversy over Tinubu’s academic credentials has been part of legal and political disputes surrounding the 2023 presidential election. Atiku and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenged Tinubu’s victory, raising questions about documents submitted to INEC, including records relating to Chicago State University.
Tinubu has consistently denied allegations that he forged his academic credentials and has maintained that he attended and graduated from Chicago State University.
Nigerian courts ultimately upheld Tinubu’s election after dismissing the legal challenges to his victory.
The separate controversy involving approximately $460,000 in the United States dates back to a civil forfeiture proceeding in 1993. U.S. court records have been cited in political debates over the matter, but the forfeiture proceeding was civil in nature and did not constitute a criminal conviction against Tinubu.
Tinubu has denied involvement in drug trafficking, while his supporters have argued that the matter has already been extensively addressed through previous legal proceedings.
As of the time of reporting, details of Kalu’s petition had not been made public, and there was no indication that the European Commission had taken any action following its submission.
The Presidency had also not publicly responded to Kalu’s latest allegations at the time of publication.
The development is likely to further intensify political debates ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, particularly over presidential eligibility, constitutional compliance, electoral documentation and the role of international institutions in Nigeria’s democratic affairs.
SUNTV Global Channel Reporting — Bringing You News, Facts and Accountability.
