Court Orders INEC Chairman to Produce Tinubu’s 1999, 2023 Election Forms

A Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to produce President Bola Tinubu’s nomination documents for the 1999 Lagos governorship and 2023 presidential elections.

The order forms part of the defence’s efforts in the ongoing trial of publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, who faces prosecution by the Department of State Services (DSS) over his social media comments about the president.

In a subpoena titled “Subpoena Duces Tecum”, the court specifically requested Tinubu’s Form CF001, which he submitted to INEC for the 1999 Lagos governorship election.

The document also includes the affidavit relating to lost certificates submitted alongside the nomination form.

Similarly, the court directed Amupitan to produce the president’s Form CF001 submitted to the electoral commission for the 2023 presidential election.

The subpoena, issued in charge number FHC/CR/484/2025, was signed by the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar.

The development followed Monday’s proceedings, during which the court granted the defence’s application to summon Amupitan and former Lagos State publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, as witnesses.

Sowore’s counsel, Ruben Adakole, had informed the court of the defence’s intention to call the two individuals to testify.

Justice Umar subsequently approved the request and ordered the issuance of subpoenas to both witnesses.

However, the court rejected another application by Sowore seeking to compel the lead counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, to testify for the defence.

The judge set aside the earlier subpoena issued to Kehinde, citing the duty of confidentiality that governs the relationship between lawyers and their clients.

He explained that legal practitioners cannot ordinarily disclose communications relating to their professional engagements.

According to him, the law permits exceptions only in limited circumstances, particularly where the evidence concerns an uncontested matter or would not prejudice the client’s interests.

The judge also upheld the prosecution’s argument that the application against Kehinde was intended to frustrate proceedings and lacked good faith.

The court adjourned the case until November 11 for the appearance of the subpoenaed defence witnesses.

Sowore is standing trial over social media posts in which he allegedly described President Tinubu as a “criminal”.