Social media users reacted strongly after President Bola Tinubu nominated Professor Joash Amupitan as chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Many alleged that he had served on Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 election tribunal.
The allegation has sparked criticism from some users who argue that Amupitan is unfit to lead the country’s electoral body because of the supposed link.
Some of the users who published the post claimed that Amupitan is not qualified to lead the county’s electoral body owing to the purported legal services to Tinubu.
The claim circulated online after Tinubu nominated Amupitan as the new INEC chairman following the exit of Mahmood Yakubu, who has completed his two-term of 10 years.
Amupitan, 58, is a professor of law at the University of Jos, Plateau State, where he also serves as the deputy vice-chancellor (administration).
In a news report published by National Periscope, the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in Nigeria was quoted to have said that Amupitan was the lead counsel of the All-Progressives Congress, APC, and Tinubu at the presidential election petition tribunal for the 2023 elections.
An X user, @dangbanamanger, wrote: “The National Council of State which includes the President, VP, former Presidents, former Chief Justices, Senate President, Speaker, all Governors, and the AGF approved this INEC Chairman.
This same man was once APC’s counsel and part of Tinubu’s election tribunal legal team. At this point, it’s either the opposition are jokers or Nigerians are just being taken for a ride.”
To verify the claim that Amupitan was part of Tinubu’s legal team, CableCheck examined the certified true copies,CTC, of the judgments delivered by both the presidential election petition tribunal and the Supreme Court on the 2023 presidential election.
The CTC usually lists the names of all lawyers who represented parties in the case.
CableCheck found that Amupitan’s name was not listed as counsel in the case.
However, the name “Taiwo Osipitan” was listed among the counsel who represented Tinubu in the matter.
It is possible that those who circulated the claim had mistaken Taiwo Osipitan for Joash Amupitan.
READ ALSO: Council of State approves Amupitan as new INEC chairman
Taiwo Osipitan, a senior advocate of Nigeria, is a professor of law at the University of Lagos.
Wole Olanipekun, SAN, was the lead counsel for Tinubu’s legal team at both the tribunal and the supreme court.
Lawyers who defended Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Kabir Masari, and the All-Progressives Congress against the petition filed by the Allied Peoples Movement.
L.O. Fagbemi (SAN)
Adeniyi Akintola (SAN)
Aliyu O. Saiki (SAN)
A.M. Rafindadi (SAN)
Ahmad El-Marzuq (Esq)
Omosanya Popoola (Esq)
Folake Abiodun (Esq)
Wole Olanipekun (SAN)
Akin Olujinmi (SAN)
Yusuf Ali (SAN)
Babatunde Ogala (SAN)
Funmilayo Quadri (SAN)
A.R. Arobo (Esq)
Akintola Makinde (Esq)
Yinka Ajenifuja (Esq)
Rowland Otaru (SAN)
A.A. Malik (SAN)
Chris E. Agbiti (Esq)
Gabriel M. Ishom (Esq)
Yomi Aliyu (SAN)
G.M. Ishom (Esq)
O.R. Iyere (Esq)
Edeji Adaeze (Esq)
Lawyers who represented Tinubu, Shettima, and APC in the petition filed by Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate:
Wole Olanipekun (SAN)
Akin Olujinmi (SAN)
Yusuf Ali (SAN)
Emmanuel Ukala (SAN)
Taiwo Osipitan (SAN)
Dele Adesina (SAN)
Hassan Liman (SAN)
Olatunde Busari (SAN)
A.U. Mustapha (SAN)
Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN)
Bode Olanipekun (SAN)
A.A. Malik (SAN)
Funmilayo Quadri (SAN)
Babatunde Ogala (SAN)
Remi Olatubora (SAN)
M.O. Adebayo (SAN)
Emmanuel Uwadoka (Esq)
Yinka Ajenifuja (Esq)
Akintola Makinde (Esq)
L.O. Fagbemi (SAN)
Charles U. Edosomwan (SAN)
Adeniyi Akintola (SAN)
Afolabi Fashanu (SAN)
Chukwuma Ekomani (SAN)
Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN)
Solomon Umoh (SAN)
Hakeem O. Afolabi (SAN)
Y.H.A. Ruba (SAN)
Anthony Adeniyi (SAN)
Mumuni Hanafi (SAN)
Japhat Opawale (Esq)
Olanrewaju Akinshola (Esq)
Huwaila M. Ibrahim (Esq)
Lawyers who defended Tinubu, Shettima, and the APC against the petition filed by Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party:
Wole Olanipekun (SAN)
Akin Olujinmi (SAN)
Yusuf Ali (SAN)
Emmanuel Ukala (SAN)
Taiwo Osipitan (SAN)
Adebayo Adelodun (SAN)
Oladele Adesina (SAN)
Hassan Liman (SAN)
Olatunde Busari (SAN)
Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN)
Bode Olanipekun (SAN)
Funmilayo Quadri (SAN)
Babatunde Ogala (SAN)
Remi Olatubora (SAN)
M.O. Adebayo (SAN)
A.A. Malik (SAN)
Yinka Ajenifuja (Esq)
Akintola Makinde (Esq)
Julius Ishola (Esq)
L.O. Fagbemi (SAN)
Charles U. Edosomwan (SAN)
Adeniyi Akintola (SAN)
A. Fashanu (SAN)
Chukwuma Ekoneani (SAN)
Abiodun J. Owonikoko (SAN)
Sam T. Ologunorisha (SAN)
Solomon Umoh (SAN)
Hakeem O. Afolabi (SAN)
Olusola Oke (SAN)
Aliyu O. Saiki (SAN)
Y.H.A. Ruba (SAN)
Anthony Adeniyi (SAN)
Mumuni Hanafi (SAN)
Ahmad El-Marzuq (Esq)
Seun Ajayi (Esq)
Omosanya Popoola (Esq)
Adeniji Kazeem (SAN)
At the Supreme Court, the lawyers who represented Tinubu, Shettima, and the APC were:
Wole Olanipekun (SAN)
Yusuf Ali (SAN)
Emmanuel Ukala (SAN)
Taiwo Osipitan (SAN)
Akintola Makinde (Esq)
Akin Olujinmi (SAN)
Charles Uwensuji Edosomwon
Adeniyi Akintola (SAN)
Afolabi Fashanu (SAN)
Olumide Olujinmi (Esq)
Evidence reviewed indicated that Amupitan did not serve as part of Tinubu’s legal team during the 2023 election tribunal.
The Cable.ng
Since creation man is giving to mischief. They would not relent in looking for negative stories against Tinubu. Haba!