As against the rumour being peddled, the newly-nominated Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, was never a member of the legal team of President Bola Tinubu at both the presidential election tribunal and the Supreme Court while the dispute over the 2023 presidential election lasted.

A search by The Nation through the lists of counsel’s appearances contained in the certified true copies (CTC) of the three judgments of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPC) and the two final judgments of the Supreme Court in the 2023 presidential election dispute, did not reflect Prof. Amupitan’s name.

Those peddling the rumour may have been unable to distinguish the name of Professor Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), who appeared with Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), along with others, for Tinubu and Vice President Ksahim Shettima, from that of Professor Joash Amupitan.

The PEPC rendered its consolidated judgment on September 6, 2023, on the three petitions that it fully considered.

The three petitions were:

*Petition No: CA/PEPC/03/2023 was filed by Peter Obi and Labour Party (LP), with INEC, Tinubu, Shettima, and APC as 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th respondents.

*Petition No: CA/PEPC/04/2023 was filed by Allied Peoples Movement (APM), with INEC, APC, Tinubu, Shettima, and Kabir Masari listed as 1st to 5th respondents, respectively.

*Petition No: CA/PEPC/05/2023 was filed by Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, with INEC, Tinubu, and the APC listed as 1st to 3rd respondents, respectively.

Appearances of lawyers in Peter Obi and LP’s petition were recorded as follows:

The petitioners were: Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), Awa Kalu (SAN), Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), Chief Ben. Anachebe (SAN), Ikechukwu Ezechukwu (SAN), J.S. Okutepa (SAN), Prof. Paul Ananaba (SAN), Dr. Mrs. Valerie – Janette Azinge (SAN), Emeka Okpoko (SAN), Alex Ejesieme (SAN), Peter Afuba (SAN), Emenike Mbanugo, Chike A. Obi, and Vincent Ottaokpukpu.

Appearance for INEC (1st respondent) included: A.B. Mahmoud (SAN), Miannaya Essien (SAN), Sir Stephen Adehi (SAN), T.M. Inuwa (SAN), Alhassan A. Umar (SAN), Abdulaziz Sani and S.O. Ibrahim (SAN), Nasara H. Auta, Aminu Sadauki, and Dr. Patricia Obi.

Those who appeared for Tinubu and Kashim Shettima (2nd and 3rd respondents) were: Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), Yusuf Ali (SAN), Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), Dele Adesina (SAN), Dr. 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), Dr. Remi Olatubora (SAN), and M.O. Adebayo (SAN), Emmanuel Uwadoka, Yinka Ajenifuja, and Akintola Makinde.

For the APC (4th respondent), L.O. Fagbemi (SAN), Chief Dr. Charles U. Edosomwan (SAN), Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), Chukwuma Ekomani (SAN), Abiodun J. Owonikoko (SAN), Solomon Umoh (SAN), Hakeem O. Afolabi (SAN), Y.H.A. Ruba (SAN), Chief Anthony Adeniyi (SAN), Mumuni Hanafi (SAN), Japhat Opawale, Olanrewaju Akinshola, and Huwaila M Ibrahim.

In the petition by APM, Andrew Nwajim Malgwi (SAN), G.A. Idiagbonya, J. O. Olotu, Joyce Torkula, Ndidi Naku, and L.J. Ashaku were recorded as appearing for the petitioner.

Sir Stephen Adehi (SAN), T.M. Inuwa (SAN), Alhassan A. Umar (SAN), Dr. Patricia Obi, Wendy Kuku, and M.A. Attah appeared for the 1st respondent (INEC).

For the APC (2nd respondents), Prince L.O. Fagbemi (SAN), Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), Aliyu O. Saiki (SAN) and A.M. Rafindadi (SAN), Ahmad El-Marzuq, Omosanya Popoola, and Folake Abiodun.

Don hails nomination

Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) led the legal team of Tinubu and Shettima, which also featured Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), Yusuf Ali (SAN), Babatunde Ogala (SAN), Funmilayo Quadri (SAN), A.R. Arobo, Akintola Makinde, and Yinka Ajenifuja.

The legal team for Masari (the 5th respondent in this petition) was made up of Dr. Rowland Otaru (SAN), A.A. Malik (SAN), Chris E. Agbiti, Gabriel M. Ishom, Chief Yomi Aliyu (SAN), G.M. Ishom, O.R. Iyere, and Edeji Adaeze.

In respect of the petition by Atiku and the PDP, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Nella Andem-Ewa Rabana (SAN), Dr. Garba Tetengi (SAN), Mahmoud Magaji (SAN), Joe Abraham (SAN), Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN), Emeka Etiaba (SAN), Prof. Maxwel M. Gidado (SAN), Gordy Uche (SAN), Edward Ashiekaa (SAN), A.K. Ajibade (SAN), Abdul A. Ibrahim (SAN), Paul Harris Ogbole (SAN), Kemasuode Wodu (SAN), Andrew M. Malgwi (SAN), Prof. Yusuf Dankofa, M.S. Atolagbe, and Olabode Makinde appeared for the petitioners.

A.B. Mahmoud (SAN), Miannaya Essien (SAN), Abdullahi Aliyu (SAN, Sir Stephen Adehi (SAN), T.M. Inuwa (SAN), Alhassan A. Umar (SAN), Abdulaziz Sani (SAN), S.O. Ibrahim (SAN), Nasara H. Auta, Aminu Sadauki, and Dr. Patricia Obi appeared for INEC (the first respondent).

Tinubu (the second respondent) was represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), Yusuf Ali (SAN), Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), Adebayo Adelodun (SAN), Oladele Adesina (SAN), Dr. Hassan Liman (SAN), Olatunde Busari (SAN), Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), Bode Olanipekun (SAN), Mrs. Funmilayo Quadri (SAN), Babatunde Ogala (SAN), Dr. Remi Olatubora (SAN) M.O. Adebayo (SAN), A.A. Malik (SAN), Yinka Ajenifuja, Akintola Makinde, and Julius Ishola.

The APC consisted of Prince L. O. Fagbemi (SAN), Dr. Charles U. Edosomwan,(SAN), Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), Chief A. Fashanu (SAN), Chukwuma Ekoneani (SAN), Abodun J. Owonikoko (SAN), Sam T. Ologunorisha (SAN), Solomon Umoh (SAN), Hakeem O. Afolabi (SAN), Olusola Oke (SAN), Aliyu O. Sanu (SAN), Y. H. A. Ruba (SAN), Chief Anthony Adeniyi (SAN), Mumumi Hanafi (SAN), Ahmad El-Marzuq, Seun Ajayi, and Omosanya Popoola, including Adeniyi Kazeem (SAN).

At the Supreme Court, the judgment was delivered on October 26, 2023 in the appeal marked: SC/CV/937/2023 filed by Peter Obi and the LP, which had INEC, Tinubu, Shettima, and the APC as the 1st to 4th respondents respectively.

*The judgment of the Supreme Court was equally delivered on October 26, 2023, in the appeal marked: SC/CV/935/2023 filed by Abubakar Atiku and the PDP, with INEC, Tinubu, and the APC as the 1st to 3rd respondents.

The legal team of Peter Obi and the LP (who were the appellants) was made up of Dr. Livy Uzochukwu (SAN), Awa Kalu (SAN), Alex Ejesieme (SAN), Peter Afuba (SAN), and Chike Obi.

The first respondent (INEC was represented by A. B. Mahmoud (SAN), Miannaya Essien (SAN), Sir Stephen Adehi (SAN), Musa A. Attah, and Chukwudi Enebeli.

Tinubu and Shettima (2nd and 3rd respondents) were represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Yusuf Ali (SAN), Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), and Akintola Makinde.

The APC team was made up of Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwon (SAN), Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN and Olumide Olujinmi.

In relation to the appeal by Atiku and the PDP, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), Prof. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Nella Andem-Ewa Rabana (SAN), and Ahmed T. Uwais represented the appellants.

INEC (the 1st respondent) was represented by A. B. Mahmoud (SAN), Dr. Kemi Pinhario (SAN), Abdullahi Aliyu (SAN), S. O. Ibrahim (SAN), Aminu Sadauki, and Wendy Kuku.

Tinubu was represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Yusuf Ali (SAN), Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), and Akintola Makinde.

The APC was represented by Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), Chief Charles Uwensuji Edosonwan (SAN), Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), and Olumide Olujinmi. (The Nation)