Joash Amupitan: 10 Key Facts About Professor Tinubu May Appoint as Next INEC Chairman
- President Bola Tinubu is reportedly eyeing Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, as a potential successor to INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu
- Amupitan, a seasoned law professor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Jos, boasts an illustrious academic and legal career spanning over three decades
- If appointed, he would bring deep expertise in corporate governance and electoral law to Nigeria’s top electoral body
President Bola Tinubu is reportedly considering Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following the expected retirement of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu on November 8.
Here are ten essential facts about the legal scholar poised to take on one of Nigeria’s most critical democratic roles.
Source: Twitter
1. Joash Amupitan Is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)
Amupitan was conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in August 2014, marking his recognition as one of the country’s leading legal minds.
2. Serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at University of Jos
As of October 25, 2022, Amupitan holds the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, where he has taught law for decades.
3. Born in Kogi State in April 1967
Amupitan hails from Aiyetoro-Gbede in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, a North-central state in Nigeria.
4. Nigeria’s Best Graduating Law Student in 1987
In his undergraduate years, Amupitan emerged top of his class, sweeping all major academic prizes in the Faculty of Law at the University of Jos, including the Richard Akinjide’s Prize and the UniJos Chancellor Prize.
5. Three Law Degrees
After earning his LL.B (Hons) in 1987, Amupitan completed his BL at the Nigerian Law School in 1988, followed by an LL.M in 1993 and a Ph.D in Law in 2007, all from the University of Jos.
6. Became a Professor of Law in 2008
Amupitan joined the University of Jos in 1989 as an Assistant Lecturer and rose through the ranks to become a Professor of Law on October 1, 2008. He has supervised numerous postgraduate students and won the Teslim Elias Award for meritorious service in 2014.
7. Specialises in company law and corporate governance
Amupitan’s academic focus includes Company Law, Corporate Governance Law and the Law of Evidence. He has taught these subjects at undergraduate and postgraduate levels since 1989 and 2006 respectively.
8. Held key administrative roles in legal education
Between 2006 and 2012, Amupitan served as Head of the Department of Public Law, Dean of the Faculty of Law, and was re-elected for a second term as Dean in 2012.
9. Extensive legal and institutional experience
Amupitan has participated in litigation across Nigeria’s court system, served on company boards, and contributed to governance through roles in Vision 2020 and the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Namu Town conflict.
10. Widely published and internationally recognised
With over 70 scholarly articles to his name, Amupitan has served as an external examiner and assessor to institutions such as the University of Fort Hare, National Islamic University Malaysia, and several Nigerian universities.
He is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University.
Who will succeed INEC Chairman? Nigerians speak
Legit.ng earlier reported that with less than two months to the end of Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s tenure as the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigerians have begun voicing their expectations for his successor.
In interviews with Weekend Trust, citizens from various sectors stressed that the next INEC chairman must embody integrity, competence, and impartiality, while rejecting the idea that geopolitical zone should influence the appointment.
Source: Legit.ng
