A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has issued a direct order for the arrest and imprisonment of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over contempt of court.
Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi, who presided over the matter, ruled that Professor Yakubu and INEC had failed to obey a binding judgement delivered earlier this year, mandating the reinstatement of national officers of the Action Alliance party on the Commission’s website.
The ruling, delivered on Monday 29 September 2025, came just days before Professor Yakubu formally stepped down from his role at INEC. He was succeeded by Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu, who now serves as acting chairman.
The court’s decision stems from a suit filed by the Action Alliance party, marked FHC/OS/194/2024, which challenged the removal of the Rufai Omoaje-led National Executive Committee from INEC’s portal. The plaintiffs — including Professor Julius Adebowale, Engr. Olowookere Alabi, Barr. Chinwuba Zulyke, Oladele Sunday, Simon Itokwe, and Araoye Oyewole — filed the case on behalf of themselves and 30 other state chairmen.
According to the certified court order obtained by Vanguard, the plaintiffs sought multiple reliefs, including:
– “An order of committal to the Correctional Centre (formerly Prison) of the 1st Defendant (INEC) and the 2nd Defendant (Prof Mahmood Yakubu) for disobeying the judgement/orders of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State in Suit No: FHC/OS/CS/194/2024 delivered on the 17th of February 2025.”
– “An order compelling the 1st Defendant (INEC) and 2nd Defendant (Prof Mahmood Yakubu) to comply with the judgement/orders of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State, that ordered that the names of the Plaintiffs — who are State Chairmen of Action Alliance, elected under Hon. Adekunle Rufai Omoaje-led Executive Committee — be restored.”
– “An order for costs for the 1st and 2nd Defendants’ acts of contempt resulting in financial and private injuries to the Plaintiffs.”
Justice Demi-Ajayi further directed the Inspector General of Police to “cause the arrest” of the defendants and “charge them for contempt and committal proceedings within seven days of this ruling.”
The court also imposed a cost of ₦100,000 against INEC and Professor Yakubu in favour of the plaintiffs.
