₦airaland Forum

The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately reverse the appointment of the newly inaugurated Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Joash Ojo Amupitan. The Shari'ah Council's call on Saturday followed SaharaReporters’ exclusive report that revealed that Professor Amupitan once authored a legal brief in 2020 containing

SaharaReporters had on Thursday exclusively obtained the report titled "Nigeria's Silent Slaughter" where the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, in his legal brief, called for urgent intervention to stop what he termed “pogrom and attacks against the Christians and minority groups in Nigeria.”

Amupitan, recently appointed by President Bola Tinubu to head the country's electoral commission, had titled his contribution, “Legal Brief: Genocide in Nigeria – The Implications for the International Community."

The document — published by the International Committee on Nigeria (ICON), a global advocacy network promoting human rights and religious freedom — was officially signed under Amupitan’s law firm, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) & Co., Legal Practitioners & Corporate Consultants, with offices in Jos and Abuja.

The Shari'ah council described Amupitan's legal brief as “provocative, distorted and bigoted assertions” against Muslims in Northern Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Friday, November 7, 2025 (16th Jumada I 1447 AH), the SCSN said it received with “deep disappointment and grave concern” the SaharaReporters investigation alleging that Amupitan’s 2020 legal document characterised Northern violence as “Christian genocide” and linked the insecurity in the North to the 19th-century Jihad of Sheikh Uthman bn Fodio.

The Council said it found such a stance “regrettable and disturbing”, especially from someone “now entrusted with overseeing Nigeria’s democratic integrity.”

“If indeed Prof. Amupitan authored the said document, his submissions are not only unbecoming of a person of learning but dangerously inimical to the unity, peace, and stability of our country,” the statement read.

The Council described Amupitan’s reported claims as “divisive, sectarian, abusive, and factually inaccurate narratives against a majority faith community.”

It further “categorically debunked the falsehood” contained in his alleged analysis of “Christian genocide,” insisting that the violence ravaging Northern and North-Central Nigeria is multi-dimensional and not a one-sided religious persecution.

“If we strip away the mischievous emotional language and examine the facts objectively, the reality is that the violence in Northern and North-Central Nigeria is complex and multi-dimensional. Both Muslims and Christians have suffered immensely from extremist attacks, banditry, and communal conflicts rooted in accumulated neglect, poverty, and social injustice.”

Citing humanitarian data, the SCSN claimed that Muslims have suffered more casualties than any other group in the ongoing crises.

“Credible humanitarian data from independent and international sources reveal that Muslims have suffered more casualties in these conflicts than any other group. This is an incontrovertible reality easily verified by mapping the epicentres of violence from Borno to Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, and Yobe, where over 90 percent of the victims are Muslims.”

The Council condemned what it called Amupitan’s attempt to associate modern insecurity with the historic jihad of Sheikh Uthman bn Fodio, describing it as “a malicious distortion of history and a deliberate insult.”

“The Jihad of Sheikh Uthman was not a war of hatred or extermination; it was a spiritual, moral, and social reform movement that restored justice, knowledge, and governance rooted in ethics. These instituted ideals are still admired across the African continent today.”

The SCSN said Amupitan’s record and writings “call into serious question his ability to conduct free and fair elections in a multi-religious, multi-ethnic nation.”

“Presiding over Nigeria’s electoral system demands the highest standards of neutrality, fairness, and inclusivity. By his own words, Prof. Amupitan has demonstrated a deep-seated prejudice that calls into serious question his ability to conduct free and fair elections.”

The Council, therefore, demanded that President Tinubu “immediately review and reverse” Amupitan’s appointment, declaring that “the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process cannot be entrusted to someone whose record reveals open hostility toward one of the country’s largest faith communities.”

The statement also appealed for calm among Nigerians across all religious divides, urging both Muslims and Christians to unite against common national threats.

“We urge all Nigerians, Muslims and Christians alike, to reject narratives that seek to pit one faith against another. Our common enemies are injustice, corruption, poverty, and insecurity.”

The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, in conclusion, reaffirmed its commitment to peace, unity, and the pursuit of truth based on fairness and mutual respect.

https://saharareporters.com/2025/11/08/breaking-nigerian-shariah-council-asks-tinubu-immediately-sack-inec-chairman-prof

Nlfpmod

No one is above scrutiny, and the Shari'ah Council's concerns are valid.

Chaaiiii..... Amupitan national cake chopping no go last, except Tinubu prove strong head.

HgAkpobomeEr:
No one is above scrutiny, and the Shari'ah Council's concerns are valid.

Yes they are, I agree.

Faith can't be had in him after this.

What do you expect from a country that hates truth.

Let's see if Yorubas and tinubu will obey their masters and

The Jihad of Sheikh Uthman was not a war of hatred or extermination; it was a spiritual, moral, and social reform movement that restored justice, knowledge, and governance rooted in ethics. These instituted ideals are still admired across the African continent today.”

See taqqiya
So according to Islamic logic, when you love people and want to liberate them spiritually and morally, the first thing you do is to engage in war and bloodshed against them and afterwards appoint your tribal kins to lord over them in a subjugating manner?
Till today, the original ruling houses in all the areas Dan Fodio took for himself still exist even up to Ilorin but they are never given a chance to ascend the thrones of their fathers that was taken from them by the Fulani
Instead of soberness and restitution, they are going about justifying land grab as social reform and clothing their latest expansionist agenda as land and climate issues.
Are you the only one battling climate? How come others are not killing their hosts in the name of climate issues?

Election matter is not a Sharia concern they should focus on their business

The sooner Sharia is banned and the constitution is upheld in Nigeria the better for Nigeria

Nigeria has two choices, ban Sharia and revert to a single country with a single secular constitution or split up between a Sharia dominated North + South West and a Secular South East

The south south can choose independently where they want to belong

WorkTheTalk:
The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately reverse the appointment of the newly inaugurated Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Joash Ojo Amupitan. The Shari'ah Council's call on Saturday followed SaharaReporters’ exclusive report that revealed that Professor Amupitan once authored a legal brief in 2020 containing

SaharaReporters had on Thursday exclusively obtained the report titled "Nigeria's Silent Slaughter" where the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, in his legal brief, called for urgent intervention to stop what he termed “pogrom and attacks against the Christians and minority groups in Nigeria.”

Amupitan, recently appointed by President Bola Tinubu to head the country's electoral commission, had titled his contribution, “Legal Brief: Genocide in Nigeria – The Implications for the International Community."

The document — published by the International Committee on Nigeria (ICON), a global advocacy network promoting human rights and religious freedom — was officially signed under Amupitan’s law firm, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) & Co., Legal Practitioners & Corporate Consultants, with offices in Jos and Abuja.

The Shari'ah council described Amupitan's legal brief as “provocative, distorted and bigoted assertions” against Muslims in Northern Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Friday, November 7, 2025 (16th Jumada I 1447 AH), the SCSN said it received with “deep disappointment and grave concern” the SaharaReporters investigation alleging that Amupitan’s 2020 legal document characterised Northern violence as “Christian genocide” and linked the insecurity in the North to the 19th-century Jihad of Sheikh Uthman bn Fodio.

The Council said it found such a stance “regrettable and disturbing”, especially from someone “now entrusted with overseeing Nigeria’s democratic integrity.”

“If indeed Prof. Amupitan authored the said document, his submissions are not only unbecoming of a person of learning but dangerously inimical to the unity, peace, and stability of our country,” the statement read.

The Council described Amupitan’s reported claims as “divisive, sectarian, abusive, and factually inaccurate narratives against a majority faith community.”

It further “categorically debunked the falsehood” contained in his alleged analysis of “Christian genocide,” insisting that the violence ravaging Northern and North-Central Nigeria is multi-dimensional and not a one-sided religious persecution.

“If we strip away the mischievous emotional language and examine the facts objectively, the reality is that the violence in Northern and North-Central Nigeria is complex and multi-dimensional. Both Muslims and Christians have suffered immensely from extremist attacks, banditry, and communal conflicts rooted in accumulated neglect, poverty, and social injustice.”

Citing humanitarian data, the SCSN claimed that Muslims have suffered more casualties than any other group in the ongoing crises.

“Credible humanitarian data from independent and international sources reveal that Muslims have suffered more casualties in these conflicts than any other group. This is an incontrovertible reality easily verified by mapping the epicentres of violence from Borno to Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, and Yobe, where over 90 percent of the victims are Muslims.”

The Council condemned what it called Amupitan’s attempt to associate modern insecurity with the historic jihad of Sheikh Uthman bn Fodio, describing it as “a malicious distortion of history and a deliberate insult.”

“The Jihad of Sheikh Uthman was not a war of hatred or extermination; it was a spiritual, moral, and social reform movement that restored justice, knowledge, and governance rooted in ethics. These instituted ideals are still admired across the African continent today.”

The SCSN said Amupitan’s record and writings “call into serious question his ability to conduct free and fair elections in a multi-religious, multi-ethnic nation.”

“Presiding over Nigeria’s electoral system demands the highest standards of neutrality, fairness, and inclusivity. By his own words, Prof. Amupitan has demonstrated a deep-seated prejudice that calls into serious question his ability to conduct free and fair elections.”

The Council, therefore, demanded that President Tinubu “immediately review and reverse” Amupitan’s appointment, declaring that “the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process cannot be entrusted to someone whose record reveals open hostility toward one of the country’s largest faith communities.”

The statement also appealed for calm among Nigerians across all religious divides, urging both Muslims and Christians to unite against common national threats.

“We urge all Nigerians, Muslims and Christians alike, to reject narratives that seek to pit one faith against another. Our common enemies are injustice, corruption, poverty, and insecurity.”

The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria, in conclusion, reaffirmed its commitment to peace, unity, and the pursuit of truth based on fairness and mutual respect.

https://saharareporters.com/2025/11/08/breaking-nigerian-shariah-council-asks-tinubu-immediately-sack-inec-chairman-prof

is Sharia owner of Nigeria. Already America senate and reps have passed the bills banning Sharia laws in Nigeria. Our Nigeria Senate and reps should do the needful on that too.

INEC chairman should be allowed to stay and do his work.

tinubu wont sack him

HgAkpobomeEr:
No one is above scrutiny, and the Shari'ah Council's concerns are valid.

Isn't there genocide in the North truely? What are you yapping? Maybe when your direct relation is killed, it will dawn on you

press9jatv:
is Sharia owner of Nigeria. Already America senate and reps have passed the bills banning Sharia laws in Nigeria. Our Nigeria Senate and reps should do the needful on that too.

Which Nigerian senate? Where will they get the votes to ban Sharia when more than 50% of them are Muslims.

3exe3:
tinubu wont sack him

You never can tell

Tinubu is afraid of the North

Is this one of the reasons the Sultan visited the President yesterday?

Kudos to Sahara Reporters team.

So it means these arewa guys never knew such a memo authored by Amupitan, another arewa man existed?

Infact, kundus to Sahara Reporters!

Ofunaofu:
You never can tell

Tinubu is afraid of the North

He's afraid of the north?, you think everybody is like you hiding behind the North to fight your battle?. Tinubu is not afraid of anybody and he won't sack INEC Chair.

Where's muric professor?

LoL..

There you also have it again. So this genocide thing gives these brutes some much sleeplessness yet they kept on perpetrating it and want sane humanity to keep quiet?

What is wrong with these fanatics and terrorism sef? All of us they made for this country.

Putindbutt:
He's afraid of the north?, you think everybody is like you hiding behind the North to fight your battle?. Tinubu is not afraid of anybody and he won't sack INEC Chair.

Tinubu is eternally afraid of the north

It's a known fact

No need to argue further

BeardedMeat:
Kudos to Sahara Reporters team.

So it means these arewa guys never knew such a memo authored by Amupitan, another arewa man existed?

Infact, kundus to Sahara Reporters!

What do you mean by kudos to Sahara reporters?. The report is a public document, a public record, it is not a secret or hidden document. It's people like you who are too lazy to search public documents for knowledge that do elevate people like Sowore to a god status for bringing out what's already a public record.

Ofunaofu:
Tinubu is eternally afraid of the north

It's a known fact

No need to argue further

Give us facts, no be by chochocho

There's only one reason that can make a Catholic knight turn to overnight Alhaji. So, don't project yourselves on others.

3exe3:
tinubu wont sack him

Why should he sack him? Didn't tinubu himself speak out about mass killing of christians in the north and even went to visit Obama for that.

He's happy Trump is escalating the insecuritiies. Left for this country, the terror can only get worse because these people are in government, army, police and civil service.

The one who disburses and the one receives the budget for fighting insecurity will never want it to end because they are making good money from it.

The Sharia council should also tell us when they became the spokespersons for the Northern region.