Court Orders Arrest of Former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu for Contempt
A Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has instructed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for alleged contempt of court.
The Court Order
The arrest directive was issued in a fresh ruling dated 7 October 2025 and signed by court registrar O.M. Kilani. It orders that Yakubu be apprehended and brought before the court for contempt and committal proceedings **within seven days**. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2} In addition, the court awarded a cost of ₦100,000 against the judgment creditors.
Context: How This Case Arose
The matter stems from a lawsuit (suit number FHC/OS/CS/194/2024) brought by the Action Alliance (AA) party. The suit accused INEC and Yakubu of failing to obey a previous judgment delivered by Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi. In that earlier judgment, the court had directed INEC to upload the names of the AA National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, and other National Executive Committee (NEC) members to INEC’s official portal. The court also affirmed that the AA’s elective convention held on 7 October 2023 was valid and was properly supervised by INEC in accordance with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
INEC claimed compliance with the court order, but AA countered that Omoaje’s name was still missing from INEC’s website, even though other NEC members and state chairmen had been uploaded. The court viewed that omission as non-compliance.
Timing & Political Implications
The timing is notable: the arrest order came just hours after Yakubu formally vacated office as INEC Chairman. At the same time, INEC had handed over leadership to Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, a National Commissioner, who now serves as Acting Chairman.
For many observers, this move underscores mounting pressure on former public officials to comply with court judgments, as well as the intensity of political contests around electoral oversight in Nigeria. The unfolding events may trigger legal, administrative, and reputational fallout for Yakubu and INEC.
Next Steps & Questions
- Whether the IGP and police forces will carry out the arrest order within the stipulated timeline.
- How Yakubu or his legal team might respond — whether by compliance, appeal, or contesting the court’s jurisdiction or authority in this matter.
- Whether additional contempt or enforcement actions will be pursued if the arrest is not effected within seven days.
- How this development may affect public confidence in INEC, the judiciary, and electoral institutions ahead of upcoming polls.