Daud Olatunji
The Federal High Court in Abuja has summoned the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, to produce crucial electoral documents relating to President Bola Tinubu’s 1999 Lagos State governorship election and his 2023 presidential candidacy.
The subpoena, issued in connection with the ongoing criminal trial of human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, also directs the INEC chairman to appear before the court and testify on behalf of the defendant.
Sowore is facing trial over his alleged description of President Tinubu as a criminal, a statement that has become the subject of the criminal proceedings.
According to the court document, Amupitan is required to produce Tinubu’s Form CF001 submitted to INEC during the 1999 Lagos State governorship election.
The document specifically includes the affidavit relating to lost certificates submitted by Tinubu as part of his nomination requirements for the election.
The electoral umpire is also expected to produce the Form CF001 submitted by Tinubu ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
The documents are expected to feature in the proceedings as the court considers evidence relevant to the defence being presented by Sowore.
The subpoena, issued in charge number FHC/CR/484/2025, was signed by Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The court directed the INEC chairman to personally appear and produce the specified documents, in addition to giving testimony on behalf of the defendant.
The hearing notice was reportedly served on Amupitan on Monday, November 9, 2026.
The development comes amid the ongoing legal battle between the Federal Government and Sowore over his public comments concerning the President.
However, the subpoena does not amount to a judicial finding on the allegations or issues surrounding Tinubu’s electoral documents, as the court is yet to determine the merits of the evidence that may be presented during the trial.
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