By Amah
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Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, was on Thursday announced as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
His nomination was approved by the National Council of State.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented the Kogi-born professor of law as the nominee for the vacant position, following the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu last Tuesday.
President Tinubu told the council that Amupitan is apolitical.
Amupitan’s nomination was unanimously endorsed by the council members.
Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Governor of Kogi State, described Amupitan as a man of integrity.
President Tinubu will now forward the nominee’s name to the Senate for screening in accordance to the provisions of the constitution.
58-year-old Amupitan hails from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA in Kogi State, is a lecturer at the University of Jos, Plateau, where he is also an alumnus.
Currently, he serves as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, a position he holds in conjunction with being the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in Osun State.
He specialises in Company Law, Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance and Privatisation Law. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2014.
Among the academic positions he has held at UNIJOS are: Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors (2012-2014); Dean of the Faculty of Law (2008-2014); and Head of Public Law (2006-2008).
Outside of academics, Amupitan serves as a board member of Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, a member of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies Governing Council, and a member of the Council of Legal Education (2008-2014), among other roles. He was a board member of Riss Oil Limited, Abuja(1996-2004).
Amupitan, who is also married with four children, is the author of many books on law, such as Corporate Governance: Models and Principles(2008); Documentary Evidence in Nigeria (2008); Evidence Law: Theory and Practice in Nigeria(2013), Principles of Company Law(2013) and an Introduction to the Law of Trust in Nigeria (2014).
