Buhari should order the military to produce his academic record if they exist- Atiku

Chidi Samuel|

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to ask the military to produce his academic records, if they actually exist.

The former vice president who is challenging the outcome of the recently concluded presidential election tribunal argued through his lawyers that President Buhari is in a position to give such directive to the military hierarchy.

Atiku made the assertion while responding to President Buhari’s claim to the tribunal that he is more qualified than Abubakar.

According to Livy Uzoukwu, the lead counsel to the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar is eminently qualified to contest for the office of president, and had so attached his academic credentials.

Uzoukwu argued, “In further response to Paragraph 381(iv) of the second respondent’s reply, the petitioners have no knowledge of any certificates or alleged qualifications issued to the second respondent (Muhammadu Buhari), but contend that second respondent falsely represented that his certificates are in the custody of the Nigerian Army when the second respondent, by his own admission, is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”

“In further response to Paragraph 381(iv) of the second respondent’s reply, the petitioners aver that the second respondent as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria could easily order the Army Secretary to produce the certificates allegedly submitted, if they actually exist.

“Contrary to Paragraph 381 (i-iv) of the second respondent’s reply, the petitioners aver that the second respondent does not possess the educational qualification he claimed to have in his INEC Form CF001 submitted to the first respondent (INEC), having not been attached as required.

“In reply to Paragraph 383 of the second respondent’s reply, the petitioners aver that the first petitioner (Atiku) is eminently qualified to contest election for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and had indeed attached evidence of his educational qualifications to his INEC Form CF001 submitted to the first respondent, unlike the second respondent (Buhari) who did not attach evidence of the qualifications he claimed in his INEC Form CF001 because he does not possess them as he falsely claimed.”