In Defence Of Truth And Integrity: Why Prof. Josh Amupitan Should Not Be Vilified For Speaking The Truth -By Adewole Kehinde

It is quite disheartening to see the wave of criticisms and orchestrated attacks being directed at the respected legal luminary, Professor Josh Amupitan (SAN), over the recently circulated document titled “Legal Brief: Genocide in Nigeria”.

Those attempting to malign his reputation appear either deliberately ignorant of the facts or uncomfortable with the undeniable truth boldly stated in that legal exposition.

Let it be made clear: Prof. Josh Amupitan did not author that document alone. The legal brief in question was a collective intellectual effort, a product of consultations, legal reasoning, and factual documentation by multiple scholars and practitioners of law and human rights.

Therefore, if the critics insist that Prof. Amupitan must resign or be punished for the content of the brief, one must ask: what then happens to the other contributors? Would they all be dismissed for daring to speak the truth?

The attempt to single out Prof. Amupitan is not only unfair but also exposes the shallow understanding of those who prefer political correctness to justice and honesty.

The content of “Legal Brief: Genocide in Nigeria” is not fiction. It is a factual reflection of the horrors that many Nigerians, particularly those living in Plateau, Kaduna, and Benue States, have witnessed firsthand.

One does not need to read newspapers or scroll through social media to know that these communities have endured systematic killings, displacement, and destruction over the years. Families have been wiped out. Villages erased. Farmlands destroyed. These are not mere “conflicts” or “clashes,” they are acts that fit squarely within the legal and moral definition of genocide.

Those attacking the document or its authors should, rather than resorting to name-calling, provide verifiable evidence that disproves the factual claims presented. Can they prove that these killings, burnings, and coordinated attacks never happened? Can they disprove the testimonies of victims, the reports of humanitarian agencies, and the visible scars left on communities across the Middle Belt?

If they cannot, then their criticisms hold no water.

Instead of vilifying scholars who are courageous enough to speak truth to power, the critics should write their own report, one that can stand on its own merit and factual foundation. Let them publish their version of events if they truly believe the “Legal Brief: Genocide in Nigeria” is misleading. Debate and evidence, not intimidation, should be the standard of intellectual engagement.

Prof. Josh Amupitan (SAN) remains one of Nigeria’s most erudite legal minds, a patriot whose courage to tell the truth should be commended, not condemned. History will remember him, not for bowing to political pressure, but for standing firmly on the side of truth and justice when it mattered most.

Those who cannot face the truth should at least respect those who dare to speak it.

Adewole Kehinde is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja. Email: kennyadewole@gmail.com @kennyadewole 08166240846