By Kingston Magare 9.11.2026
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN to make available President Bola Tinubu’s electoral documents from the 1999 and 2023 elections.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar issued the subpoena concerning the on-going criminal defamation trial of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore. Mr. Sowore was dragged to court by the Department of State Services after he described President Tinubu as a criminal occupying the Presidential Vila and refused to retract the story after he was asked to do so by the DSS.
The order to submit the documents is part of Mr. Sowore’s defence in the suit FHC/CR/484/2025.
The documents required by the court include INEC Form CF01, including the affidavit relating to lost certificates, submitted by Tinubu when he contested the Lagos State governorship election in 1999, and the INEC Form CF01 submitted by the President as a candidate in the 2023 presidential election.
The document, titled Subpoena Duces Tecum, directs the INEC chairman to appear before the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, and produce the requested documents while giving testimony on behalf of the defendant.
Speaking to journalists on Monday Sowore said subpoenas required Prof Amupitan and Lagos-based All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, to appear as witnesses in the case.
He said the subpoenas were key to his defence and urged the prosecuting counsel not to make any attempt to block it. He added that the case will examine issues surrounding Tinubu’s public records and political history, beyond the criminal allegations against him.