The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, to produce documents relating to President Bola Tinubu’s 1999 governorship and 2023 presidential election bids.
The order is part of the ongoing criminal proceedings against human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, over his description of the president as a criminal.
Sowore announced the development in a Facebook post on Monday, November 9, where he shared copies of the court subpoena and hearing notice addressed to the INEC chairman.
He stated that the hearing notice was served on Prof. Amupitan on Monday.
The subpoena, titled “Subpoena Duces Tecum”, requires Amupitan to present Tinubu’s Form CF01 submitted for the 1999 Lagos State governorship election, including an affidavit concerning lost certificates.
It also requests the Form CF01 filed by Tinubu for the 2023 presidential election.
The order, issued under Charge No. FHC/CR/484/2025, directed the INEC chairman to appear before the court at the Abuja Judicial Division, Courtroom 5, at 9am on October 26, 2026.
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Amupitan was also instructed to remain in attendance until the determination of the case, produce the specified records and testify on behalf of Sowore, who is the defendant.
The subpoena bears October 26, 2026, while the application seeking its issuance was dated October 23. Justice Mohammed Garba Umar is listed as the presiding judge.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria instituted the case against Sowore over his comments about Tinubu, which led to the criminal proceedings.
By seeking the subpoena, the activist wants the court to compel INEC to provide official records of the information Tinubu submitted to the commission before contesting the two elections.
The documents sought cover his 1999 governorship bid and his declaration for the 2023 presidential contest.
The outcome of the request could bring the electoral documents into the proceedings, although the contents of the records and their relevance to the allegations remain to be established in court.