*”People Were Calling Me” — INEC Boss Discloses How Phone Calls, Social Media Reports Preceded Official Notification On ADC Ruling
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
Renowned economist and public intellectual Professor Pat Utomi has delivered a scathing Easter message on X (formerly Twitter), calling out senior lawyers and judges whom he accused of sacrificing Nigeria’s future through “unjust deeds regarding electoral laws and the rule of law.”
The pointed critique comes amid growing controversy over the handling of the African Democratic Congress leadership crisis, with INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan revealing in an interview that he first learned about the Court of Appeal judgment through social media before people began calling him.
In a post on X, Professor Utomi wrote:
“May the stone of love of money which makes senior lawyers and some judges sacrifice the future of Nigeria and their own children by unjust deeds regarding electoral laws and the rule of law be rolled away.”
The message, framed as an Easter reflection referencing the biblical rolling away of the stone from Christ’s tomb, carries significant weight in the current political context.
Utomi’s specific reference to “love of money” as the motivating factor behind “unjust deeds” by senior lawyers and judges suggests a belief that financial inducements may be influencing the actions of legal practitioners and judicial officers in electoral matters.
His mention of these actors sacrificing “the future of Nigeria and their own children” underscores the gravity of the accusation — that greed is driving decisions that will have generational consequences for the country’s democracy.
The reference to “electoral laws and the rule of law” directly implicates those involved in the legal disputes currently plaguing opposition parties, including the ADC crisis that has seen INEC refuse to recognise any faction and courts issue orders that critics say are paralysing democratic participation.
Utomi’s message resonates deeply with concerns raised by opposition parties and civil society organisations about the handling of the ADC leadership dispute.
The party is caught between factions led by former Senate President David Mark and Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, with multiple court cases, conflicting legal interpretations, and INEC’s refusal to recognise or monitor any party activities.
Critics have accused certain senior lawyers — including those representing the Nafiu Bala Gombe faction — of being part of a broader effort to destabilise the opposition party from within.
The judiciary has also faced criticism for issuing orders that some say serve to benefit the ruling party by keeping opposition platforms in legal limbo.
Meanwhile, INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan, in an interview with Arise News, revealed the chaotic manner in which he first learned about the Court of Appeal judgment in the ADC matter.
“Now when I first heard of it because it was delivered or deferred, I heard of it on the news, social media, and before I knew it people were calling me that INEC has — David Mark’s group has been ordered to be removed,” Amupitan disclosed.
The INEC Chairman said he refused to take action based on social media reports.
“I said I cannot act on social media news information. I read it on the social media, then I look at it. It was an interlocutory appeal that has been dismissed. Ordinarily, we should be talking of going for the substantive trial,” he explained.
Amupitan disclosed that on March 16, 2026, he received two conflicting letters from solicitors representing both factions in the ADC dispute.
One letter came from the solicitors of Senator David Mark’s group requesting INEC to maintain the status quo and not to recognise the Nafiu Bala Gombe camp.
On the same day, he received another letter from Summit Chambers, solicitors to Nafiu Bala Gombe, stating that by order of the court, Gombe should be recognised as the national leader of ADC.
“So naturally when you receive such communications you have to refer it for advice. I call a meeting of the legal department and the EPM and we look at the facts based on the judgment,” Amupitan said.
Utomi’s critique of senior lawyers takes on particular significance when viewed against the backdrop of the ADC crisis.
Lawyers on both sides of the dispute have been engaged in legal manoeuvres that critics say serve interests other than democratic participation:
- Lawyers for the Nafiu Bala Gombe faction have filed multiple motions seeking to restrain the David Mark leadership and prevent INEC from monitoring party activities
- Lawyers for the David Mark faction have filed counter-applications and sought to proceed with party activities despite court orders
- The Nigerian Bar Association itself intervened in the matter involving Chief Judge Tsoho, raising questions about the legal profession’s role in accountability
For Utomi, the “love of money” appears to be the common thread explaining why some legal practitioners may be taking positions that undermine democratic competition rather than advancing it.
By framing his critique as an Easter message, Utomi invokes the imagery of resurrection and liberation.
The “stone” he references represents the greed and corruption that he believes has entombed justice in Nigeria’s electoral system.
His prayer that it “be rolled away” is a call for moral renewal within the legal profession and judiciary — a hope that conscience will triumph over financial inducement.
Professor Utomi’s Easter message, combined with the revelations from the INEC Chairman about the confusion surrounding the Court of Appeal judgment, paints a troubling picture of Nigeria’s electoral landscape.
When the head of the electoral commission first hears about critical court rulings through social media rather than official channels, when lawyers representing opposing factions send conflicting demands on the same day, and when a respected public intellectual feels compelled to call out senior lawyers and judges for selling out the nation’s future for money — it suggests a system in crisis.
For opposition parties like the ADC, caught in legal disputes that threaten their participation in 2027, Utomi’s message is both a validation of their concerns and a call to the conscience of those within the legal system who may yet choose differently.
Whether the “stone” will be rolled away before it entombs Nigeria’s democratic future remains to be seen. But Utomi’s Easter message ensures that those responsible for “unjust deeds regarding electoral laws” know that their actions are being watched — and judged.
The book, titled The Law of Torts in Nigeria: A Functional Approach, authored by Professor Hagler Sunny Okorie Ph.D and Ikeocha, Nathaniel Ngozi Esq, offers law students, practitioners, and academics a comprehensive guide to understanding and applying tort law in Nigerian courts. Interested buyers can place orders via the following contact numbers: 08028636615, 08037667945, 08032253813, or +234 902 196 2209.
______________________________________________________________________
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
Bonus:
Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.
How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626
________________________________________________________________________ The Law And Practice Of Redundancy In Nigeria: A Practitioner’s Guide, Authored By A Labour & Employment Law Expert Bimbo Atilola
_______________________________________________________________________
“Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
