Court Orders Arrest of Ex-INEC Chair Mahmood Yakubu

A Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the arrest and imprisonment of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for contempt of court.

Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi issued the order on Monday, September 29, 2025, ruling that Yakubu failed to comply with an earlier judgment directing INEC to relist the names of the Rufai Omoaje-led national officers of the Action Alliance (AA) on the Commission’s website.

The order came just before Yakubu officially stepped down as INEC Chairman, having completed his tenure.

In the suit marked FHC/OS/194/2024, the Action Alliance and its state chairmen sought a mandamus compelling INEC and Professor Yakubu to reinstate the Omoaje-led executive members, whose names had been unlawfully removed from the commission’s online portal.

According to the certified court document obtained by Vanguard, the plaintiffs had filed a motion on notice dated May 14, 2025, under relevant provisions of the Federal High Court Rules and the Sheriff and Civil Process Act, seeking to commit Yakubu and INEC to prison for disobedience to a subsisting court order issued on February 17, 2025.

Part of the ruling reads:

“That the Inspector General of Police shall cause the arrest and shall charge the Defendants/Judgment Debtors for contempt and committal proceedings within seven days of this ruling.

“Cost of ₦100,000 is ordered against the Defendants/Judgment Debtors in favour of the Plaintiffs/Judgment Creditors.”

The plaintiffs in the case include the Action Alliance, Professor Julius Adebowale, Engineer Olowookere Alabi, Barrister Chinwuba Zulyke, Oladele Sunday, Simon Itokwe, and Araoye Oyewole, representing 30 state chairmen of the party.

INEC and Professor Mahmood Yakubu were listed as the first and second defendants, respectively.

Meanwhile, following Yakubu’s exit, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu has assumed office as the acting INEC Chairman.