From David Onuoja, Abuja
A legal Scholar, Dr. John Mahwel, has defended the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), amid criticisms by former Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Solomon Dalung.
Mahwel described allegations against Amupitan as “false, misleading and unacceptable”.
Mahwel, a member of the Faculty of Law’s 2009 graduating class of the University of Jos, said his intervention was necessary to “set the record straight”, given his direct experience as both a student and later a lecturer under Prof. Amupitan.
According to him, “issues of result manipulation occurred at the University of Jos in 2009, but were traced to lapses in administrative processes involving non-academic staff”. He stated that it was under Amupitan’s leadership as Dean that the discrepancies were uncovered and corrected through an internal investigation.
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The process led to the reversal of improperly awarded grades and, in some cases, delayed graduations for affected students. Mahwel described this action as a “demonstration of institutional integrity” rather than evidence of wrongdoing.
Mahwel also refuted claims that a serving Deputy Inspector General of Police, graduated in the 2009 set with a disputed result, stating that no such individual existed in his class to his knowledge.
On allegations that Amupitan frustrated Dalung academically, Mahwel, argued that Amupitan was not Dean when Dalung pursued his postgraduate studies. He emphasised that academic decisions are made collectively, limiting the ability of any single official to victimise a student.
While expressing respect for both figures, Mahwel cautioned against the politicisation of sensitive institutional matters, urging public figures to exercise restraint in their statements.
He therefore reaffirmed Amupitan’s integrity and professionalism, calling on the public to rely on verifiable facts rather than politically charged narratives.
