Court Orders IGP to Probe And Arrest INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu

A Federal High Court sitting  in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the Inspector General of Police to arrest former INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu for contempt of court. The court’s directive follows a suit filed by the Action Alliance, alleging that INEC and Yakubu failed to comply with an earlier judgment delivered on February 17, 2025.

The judgment had ordered INEC to upload the names of the party’s National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, and other National Executive Committee members to its portal. Although INEC claimed to have complied, the party disputed this, stating that Omoaje’s name was still missing from the commission’s website ¹ ².

*Key Details of the Court Order:*

– *Contempt Charge*: The court found Yakubu and INEC guilty of contempt for disobeying the earlier judgment.
– *Arrest and Committal*: The Inspector General of Police is directed to arrest Yakubu and initiate committal proceedings within seven days.
– *Fine*: A cost of ₦100,000 is imposed against the defendants in favor of the plaintiffs.
– *Compliance Deadline*: The court ordered INEC and Yakubu to comply with the judgment within seven days to avoid arrest ¹ ³.

The court’s decision has sparked debate about institutional accountability and respect for court orders within Nigeria’s electoral system. The timing of the order, issued just hours after Yakubu stepped down as INEC Chairman, has also raised questions about the implications for his legacy and the electoral process.