Federal High Court Orders IGP to Arrest Former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu for Contempt

Despite his recent departure from office, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is facing legal jeopardy after the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, issued a fresh order for his arrest. The court has directed the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, to apprehend the former INEC boss on charges related to contempt of court.

Dependable NG reports that the order was handed down just hours after Professor Yakubu officially stepped down as INEC chairman. The case stems from a suit filed by the Action Alliance (AA) challenging the commission and its former head for their non-compliance with a judgment delivered by Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi in suit number FHC/OS/CS/194/2024.

The original judgment explicitly mandated INEC to upload the names of the Action Alliance’s National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, and other members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) onto the official INEC portal. Furthermore, the court had affirmed the authenticity of the party’s elective convention held on October 7, 2023, which produced Omoaje and his NEC members, noting it was properly monitored and supervised by INEC officials in accordance with the party’s constitution and the electoral acts.

While INEC claimed to have adhered to the court’s directive, the Action Alliance disagreed, pointing out that Omoaje’s name was still missing from the commission’s website, even though the names of the state chairmen and other NEC members under Omoaje’s leadership were present. This partial compliance led the court to express its displeasure.

The new court order, dated October 7, 2025, and signed by Mr. O.M. Kilani on behalf of the Court Registrar, leaves no room for ambiguity. It specifically directs the police to take swift action: “it is hereby ordered that the Inspector General of Police shall cause the arrest and shall charge the defendant/judgment debtors for contempt and committal proceedings within seven days of this ruling.” In a curious detail, the court also awarded a cost of #100,000 against the judgment creditors, the Action Alliance. This directive to arrest a high-profile former public official for contempt marks a significant legal development regarding the enforcement of court judgments against government institutions.