Court orders INEC chairman to produce Tinubu’s 1999 and 2023 election documents in Sowore trial
Photo: Omoyele Sowore and INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan · Sources: OtownGist (Sept 2019); School Info Spot (Oct 2025 file photos)
The subpoena was issued after the court approved a defence request — but it proves nothing about the documents’ contents, and the hearing is on Wednesday.
Key points
- Separately, the Presidency on Monday dismissed ex-lecturer Dr Adetokunbo Pearse’s claim that Tinubu never attended Chicago State University; CSU’s own records confirm attendance from August 1977 to June 1979 and graduation in 1979.
- Sowore is being prosecuted by the DSS over social-media posts calling Tinubu a “criminal”.
- The Federal High Court, Abuja, has subpoenaed INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan to appear and produce President Bola Tinubu's nomination documents in the criminal trial of Omoyele Sowore.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, has subpoenaed INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan to appear and produce President Bola Tinubu’s nomination documents — Form CF001, including the affidavit on lost certificates, from the 1999 Lagos governorship election, and the equivalent form from the 2023 presidential election — in the criminal trial of Omoyele Sowore (charge FHC/CR/484/2025).
The subpoena (Subpoena Duces Tecum, signed by Justice Mohammed Garba Umar) was issued after the court on Monday approved a defence request to subpoena Amupitan and former Lagos APC publicity secretary Joe Igbokwe as witnesses. Sowore is being prosecuted by the DSS over social-media posts calling Tinubu a “criminal”.
The case is adjourned to Wednesday 11 Nov, when the subpoenaed witnesses are expected to appear. The subpoena does not establish that the documents contain false information or that any electoral wrongdoing occurred.
Separately, the Presidency on Monday dismissed ex-lecturer Dr Adetokunbo Pearse’s claim that Tinubu never attended Chicago State University; CSU’s own records confirm attendance from August 1977 to June 1979 and graduation in 1979. The claim is a separate, already-dismissed allegation.
Why this matters
The subpoena would force INEC to produce Tinubu's 1999 and 2023 nomination documents — but the court has not yet ruled on whether it stands.
Latest developments
First published 10 Nov 2026, 08:38 WAT.
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Sources
- TheCable — Court orders INEC chairman to produce Tinubu's 1999, 2023 nomination forms in Sowore's cybercrime trial
- Legit.ng — Court orders INEC produce Tinubu's 1999, 2023 election documents in Sowore trial
- Leadership — Court orders INEC chairman to produce Tinubu's 1999, 2023 election records in Sowore's trial
- WorldStage — Court subpoenas INEC chairman to produce Tinubu's original nomination records in Sowore case
Subpoena verified across five outlets. The subpoena proves nothing about the documents' contents. The CSU claim is a separate, already-dismissed allegation, reported only with the CSU record alongside it.