A former Chicago State University lecturer, Adetokunbo Pearse, has described President Bola Tinubu as a “professional crook,” saying he never attended Chicago State University.

Mr Pearse, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Lagos State, during an interview with News Central on Sunday, spoke on the lingering controversy on Mr Tinubu’s Chicago State University. 

“The fact of the matter is, I know he never attended Chicago State University. He knows that I know. So the man (Mr Tinubu) has no integrity,” Mr Pearse. 

Reminded that the aviation minister said Mr Tinubu was homeschooled, Mr Pearse replied, “That was not what Tinubu himself said. Look at the record he submitted to INEC. He never said he was homeschooled. He gave names of schools he never attended. This man is a professional crook.” 

Mr Pearse further stated, “I used to be a lecturer at Chicago State University for five years. I was the director of the programme in which Tinubu said he attended at Chicago State University. I was in Chicago State University between 1985 and 1990.

“When Funsho Williams was looking for information on Tinubu’s record in 1999, it was to me they sent people to come get the information. I had the information. If he is a genius, he is a genius at rigging elections.”

Presidential spokespersons, Bayo Onanuga and Daniel Bwala, have yet to respond to the Peoples Gazette request for comments on Mr Pearse’s statement. 

Mr Tinubu’s CSU certificate has been mirred in controversy since he ventured into politics.

While forgery allegations trail his certificate, Mr Tinubu moved against the release of his records with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).