- Safiu Kehinde
The Former Coordinator of President Bola Tinubu’s Presidential Legal Team, Babatunde Ogala (SAN), has dismissed claims of the newly appointment Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, being part of the President’s legal team.
Amupitan’s appointment by Tinubu had sparked controversies with media reports claiming the new INEC Chairman was among the legal team during the President’s campaign in 2023.
Reacting to the speculations in a statement issued on Friday, Ogala clarified that Amupitan was never in the list of the over 123 legal practitioners.
Ogala expressed willingness to make available certified true copies of all legal processes filed on behalf of Tinubu during the campaign, stressing that the new INEC Chairman was never part of the process.
While acknowledging the inevitability of public discourse, the ex-Coordinator of the Tinubu’s Presidential Legal Team urged members of the public to desist from twisting facts.
He reiterated that the President has the right to appoint Amupitan who has since been approved by the Nigerian Council of State.
Ogala charged Nigerians and the media to reject what he called baseless and divisive narratives.
The statement read; “My attention has been drawn to several false and misleading claims currently circulating on social media, alleging that Prof. Amupitan SAN. recently appointed as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was a member of the Tinubu Presidential Legal Team.
“As the erstwhile Coordinator of that legal team, I feel compelled, not as a rejoinder, but in service to truth and public interest, to set the records straight and allay any concerns these malicious fabrications may have caused among well-meaning Nigerians.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Prof. Amupitan SAN was never, at any point, a member of the Tinubu Presidential Legal Team.
“His name does not appear among the over One Hundred and Twenty-three legal practitioners who were formally engaged for that assignment, of whom sixty (60) were distinguished Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
“At no time during the entire process was his counsel, opinion, or professional service sought or rendered.
“I therefore challenge anyone peddling this falsehood to produce verifiable evidence to the contrary.
“In fact, any member of the public may apply for Certified True Copies of all legal processes filed on behalf of the President-Elect (as he then was) to confirm the authenticity of this statement. While political discourse is inevitable in any democracy, it is essential that our engagement remains anchored on truth, decency, and national stability. Deliberately twisting facts to inflame public sentiment serves no one and only endangers our collective peace.
“Mr. President has lawfully exercised his constitutional prerogative in making this appointment O
and the council of state has approved same. It is therefore incumbent upon all responsible citizens, leaders, and media practitioners to reject narratives that are baseless, divisive, unkind, uncharitable and capable of undermining public trust.
“I reaffirm my unwavering commitment to justice, fairness, and the continued strengthening of our democratic institutions. Let truth, not mischief guide our national conversations,
“God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”