Court orders arrest of Prof Mahmood Yakubu for contempt

By Shina Abubakar Osogbo

Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi of a Federal High Court sitting successful Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the apprehension and imprisonment of Professor Mahmood Yakubu for disobeying the court’s judgement.

Recall that Professor Yakubu conscionable stepped down arsenic the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, having completed his word successful office.

However, the court, successful its bid delivered connected Monday, September 29, 2025, earlier Yakubu’s stepping aside, stated that the commission’s brag failed to instrumentality the court’s bid to relist nationalist officers of the Action Alliance connected its website.

The enactment successful a suit numbered FHC/OS/194/2024 sought an bid from the tribunal to compel INEC, Professor Yakubu, to re-enlist the names of the Rufai Omoaje-led National Executive of the party, which had been illegally removed from the Commission’s portal.

The certified transcript of the bid which was obtained by Vanguard connected Wednesday reads, “Upon the Motion connected Notice dated the 14th of May 2025 brought pursuant to Order 35 regularisation (1-3) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019; Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act; Order 9 regularisation 13 of the Judgement Enforcement Rules and nether the inherent jurisdiction of this Honourable Court; the Plaintiffs/Judgement Creditors question the pursuing reliefs:

“AN ORDER of committal to the Correctional Centre (formerly Prison) of the 1st Defendant (INEC) and the 2nd Defendant (Prof. Mahmood Yakubu) (Contemnors) for disobeying the Judgement/Orders of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State successful Suit No: FHC/OS/CS/194/2024 delivered connected the 17th of February 2025.

“An Order compelling the 1 Defendant (INEC) and 2nd Defendant (Prof. Mahood Yakubu) 9 contemnors) to comply with the Judgement/Orders of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State, that ordered that the names of the Plaintiffs who are State Chairmen of Action Alliance, elected nether Hon. Adekunle Rufai Omoaje-led Executive Committee that was unconstitutionally removed from INEC’s State Portal, to beryllium restored and that the 1st and 2nd Defendant respect each Judgements successful favour of the National Committee (NEC) of Hon. Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, among different orders.

“An Order for costs for the 1st and 2nd Defendants (Contemnors) acts of contempt resulting successful fiscal and backstage injuries to the Plaintiffs.

“And for specified bid oregon further orders that this Honourable Court whitethorn deem acceptable to marque successful the circumstances”.

The tribunal successful judgement order, “That the Inspector General of Police shall origin the apprehension and shall complaint the Defendants/Judgement Debtors for contempt and committal proceedings wrong 7 days of this Ruling.

“Cost of N100, 000 is ordered against the Defendants/Judgement Debtors successful Favour of the Plaintiffs/Judgement Creditors”..

The suit has arsenic plaintiffs the Action Alliance, Professor Julius Adebowale, and Engr. Olowookere Alabi, Barr. Chinwuba Zulyke, Oladele Sunday, Simon Itokwe, and Araoye Oyewole, for themselves and connected behalf of the different 30 authorities chairmen, portion INEC and Professor Mahmood Yakubu are listed arsenic defendants.

Profession Yakubu, however, stepped down arsenic INEC Chairman connected Tuesday arsenic Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu takes implicit arsenic acting chairman.

Vanguard News

The station Court orders apprehension of Prof Mahmood Yakubu for contempt appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.