Shari’ah Council Calls on Tinubu to Sack INEC Chairman Over Controversial ‘Genocide’ Brief
Story by Okafor Vivian
The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately remove the newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, over a controversial legal document he allegedly authored in 2020.
The document, titled “Legal Brief: Genocide in Nigeria. The Implications for the International Community,” was reportedly written by Amupitan under his law firm, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) & Co, with offices in Jos and Abuja. According to reports, the brief, published by the International Committee on Nigeria (ICON), described widespread attacks on Christians and minority groups in the country as a “pogrom” and “genocide.”
In a statement released on Friday, November 7, 2025 (16th Jumada I 1447 AH), the SCSN expressed “deep disappointment and grave concern” over the revelations, describing the brief as “provocative, distorted, and bigoted.” The Council said it was alarmed that such remarks came from a person now entrusted with overseeing Nigeria’s electoral system.
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“If indeed Prof. Amupitan authored the said document, his submissions are not only unbecoming of a scholar but dangerously inimical to the unity, peace, and stability of our country,” the statement read.
The Council rejected what it termed “divisive and sectarian claims,” stressing that the violence in Northern and North-Central Nigeria affects both Muslims and Christians, and stems largely from socio-economic and political challenges rather than religious motives. It also argued that available evidence suggests Muslims have suffered more casualties in the ongoing conflicts.
The SCSN further denounced Amupitan’s alleged attempt to link present-day insecurity to the 19th-century jihad of Sheikh Uthman bn Fodio, describing the comparison as “a malicious distortion of history.” It emphasized that the jihad was a “spiritual, moral, and social reform movement that restored justice and ethical governance.”
Raising doubts about Amupitan’s neutrality, the Council said his past writings cast serious questions on his ability to conduct credible, inclusive elections in a multi-religious nation like Nigeria. It therefore urged President Tinubu to “urgently review and revoke the appointment,” insisting that “the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process cannot rest in the hands of someone whose record reflects bias against one of the country’s major faith groups.”
The Council, however, appealed to Nigerians to remain calm and united, warning against the spread of divisive narratives. “Our common enemies are injustice, corruption, poverty, and insecurity,” it said, reaffirming its commitment to peace, fairness, and national cohesion.
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