Breaking News: Federal High Court Orders Arrest Of Former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu
By Oludare Joshua
In a significant legal development, the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has issued a warrant for the arrest of former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, over allegations of contempt of court. This order comes mere hours after Yakubu’s exit from his role at INEC.
The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by the Action Alliance (AA), which accused INEC and Yakubu of failing to comply with a court judgment delivered by Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi. The judgment, referenced in suit number FHC/OS/CS/194/2024, mandated INEC to upload the names of the party’s National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, and other members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) onto its digital portal.
The court deemed the elective convention held on October 7, 2023, which saw Omoaje elected, as legitimate, citing that it adhered to the party’s constitution and was properly supervised by INEC officials in accordance with the electoral acts.
While INEC has claimed compliance with the court’s orders, the Action Alliance contends that Omoaje’s name has yet to be added to the commission’s website, a situation that the court has found unacceptable. Although the names of the state chairmen and NEC members appear on the INEC portal, the absence of Omoaje’s name has drawn the court’s ire.
In the order dated October 7, 2025, and signed by Mr. O.M. Kilani on behalf of the Court Registrar, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, is directed to arrest Yakubu and initiate contempt proceedings within seven days. Additionally, the court has imposed a cost of ₦100,000 against the judgment creditors.
