A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the arrest and imprisonment of former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, for failing to comply with a subsisting court judgment.
Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi, who delivered the ruling on Monday, September 29, 2025, found the former INEC boss guilty of contempt of court for disobeying an earlier order directing the Commission to relist the national officers of the Action Alliance (AA) party on its website.
The order stemmed from a motion filed in suit number FHC/OS/194/2024, in which the Rufai Omoaje-led National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Action Alliance sought to compel INEC and Yakubu to restore the names of its recognized state chairmen, which had allegedly been unlawfully removed from the Commission’s portal.
In her ruling, Justice Demi-Ajayi granted the plaintiffs’ prayers for committal, stating:
“Upon the Motion on Notice dated the 14th of May 2025, the Plaintiffs/Judgment Creditors seek an order committing the 1st Defendant (INEC) and the 2nd Defendant (Prof. Mahmood Yakubu) to the Correctional Centre for disobeying the Judgment/Orders of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, delivered on the 17th of February 2025.”
The court further directed the Inspector-General of Police to effect the arrest and ensure the prosecution of Yakubu and INEC officials involved within seven days of the ruling.
Additionally, the court imposed a ₦100,000 fine against INEC and Yakubu, payable to the plaintiffs for the injuries caused by their contemptuous actions.
The plaintiffs in the case include the Action Alliance, Professor Julius Adebowale, Engr. Olowookere Alabi, Barr. Chinwuba Zulyke, Oladele Sunday, Simon Itokwe, and Araoye Oyewole, representing themselves and 30 other state chairmen.
Professor Yakubu officially vacated office on Tuesday, October 8, 2025, after completing his 10-year tenure as INEC chairman. He handed over to Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu a National Commissioner, who has assumed office in an acting capacity.
The latest ruling adds to a growing list of post-tenure controversies surrounding Yakubu’s leadership of Nigeria’s electoral body, coming just days after he formally bowed out of office.
