PROF MAHMOOD YAKUBU FACES ARREST ORDER OVER CONTEMPT OF COURT

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BY MUNIRAT BALOGUN

Judge Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi of a Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered Professor Mahmood Yakubu’s arrest and imprisonment for violating the court’s decision.
Professor Yakubu recently stepped down as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, after serving his full tenure.
However, the court stated in its order dated Monday, September 29, 2025, prior to Yakubu’s resignation, that the commission’s boss failed to implement the court’s order to relist national Action Alliance officers on its website.

The party, in a petition dated FHC/OS/194/2024, requested a court order compelling INEC, Professor Yakubu, to re-enlist the names of the party’s Rufai Omoaje-led National Executive, which had been improperly removed from the Commission’s portal.

The certified copy of the order obtained by Vanguard on Wednesday reads, “Upon the Motion on Notice dated the 14th of May 2025 brought pursuant to Order 35 rule (1-3) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019; Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act; Order 9 rule 13 of the Judgement Enforcement Rules; and under the inherent jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, the Plaintiffs/Judgement Creditors seek the following 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, in Suit No: FHC/OS/CS/194/2024 delivered on February 17, 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 under Hon. Adekunle Rufai Omoaje-led Executive Committee, that was unconstitutionally removed from INEC’s State Portal, to be restored and that the 1st and 2nd Defendant respect all Judgements in fa

“An order for costs for the first and second defendants’ (Contemnors’) acts of contempt, which resulted in financial and private injuries to the Plaintiffs.

“And for any additional orders that this Honorable Court deems appropriate in the circumstances.”
The court ordered in its judgment that the Inspector General of Police arrest the defendants/judgment debtors and charge them with contempt and committal procedures within 7 days of this ruling.

“A cost of N100,000 is assessed against the defendants/judgment debtors in favor of the plaintiffs/judgment creditors.”.

The plaintiffs in the suit are the Action Alliance, Professor Julius Adebowale, and Engr. Olowookere Alabi, Barr. Chinwuba Zulyke, Oladele Sunday, Simon Itokwe, and Araoye Oyewole, on behalf of themselves and the other 30 state chairmen, while INEC and Professor Mahmood Yakubu are named as defendants.

However, Prof. Yakubu stepped down as INEC Chairman on Tuesday, and Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu will take over as acting chairman.