Just hours after vacating office as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has been ordered to be arrested by the Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, over alleged contempt of court.
The order, issued on 7 October 2025, by Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi, directs the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest Yakubu and initiate contempt and committal proceedings within seven days of the ruling.
The legal action was instituted by the Action Alliance (AA) over INEC’s alleged failure to fully comply with a court judgment delivered earlier this year in suit number FHC/OS/CS/194/2024.
The court had ruled in favour of the party, mandating INEC to upload the names of its National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, and other National Executive Committee (NEC) members, including all state chairmen, onto the commission’s official portal. The judgment also recognised the party’s October 7, 2023 elective convention, which elected Omoaje and his executive members, as valid and lawfully conducted.
While INEC claimed compliance with the ruling, the Action Alliance disagreed, pointing out that although the names of the NEC and state chairmen had been uploaded, Omoaje’s name remained missing from the INEC portal — a development the court described as a violation of its order.
The latest court order, signed by Mr. O.M. Kilani on behalf of the Court Registrar, reads in part:
“It is hereby ordered that the Inspector General of Police shall cause the arrest and shall charge the defendant/judgment debtors for contempt and committal proceedings within seven days of this ruling.”
Despite Yakubu’s exit from INEC, the court maintains that the alleged act of disobedience occurred while he was still in office, thereby holding him accountable.
Interestingly, the court also imposed a cost of ₦100,000 against the judgment creditors — the Action Alliance — although no further explanation was given in the order for this decision.
As of press time, Yakubu has not publicly responded to the arrest order, and it remains unclear whether the police will act on the court’s directive within the stipulated time.
