Court orders arrest of ex-INEC Chairman Mahmoud Yakubu

The Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu, for contempt of court.

The arrest order was issued just hours after Yakubu officially vacated office as INEC chairman.

The directive followed a suit filed by the Action Alliance, AA, which accused INEC and its former chairman of disobeying a valid court judgment delivered by Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi in case number FHC/OS/CS/194/2024.

In the judgment, the court directed INEC to recognize Adekunle Rufai Omoaje as the National Chairman of the Action Alliance and to upload the names of the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, members and state chairmen to the commission’s official portal.

The court also affirmed that the elective convention held on October 7, 2023, which produced Omoaje and other NEC members, was valid, having been properly monitored by INEC in line with the party’s constitution and electoral laws.

However, despite INEC’s claim of compliance, the Action Alliance maintained that the commission failed to fully execute the order, as Omoaje’s name remained missing from the portal, even though those of other state chairmen and NEC members had been uploaded.

Dissatisfied with the partial compliance, the court condemned the omission and issued an arrest warrant against Yakubu.

A certified copy of the order dated October 7, 2025, and signed by Mr O.M. Kilani on behalf of the Court Registrar, stated: “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.”

The court also imposed a fine of N100,000 against the judgment creditors.