Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi of the Federal High Court in Osogbo has issued a warrant for the arrest of former INEC Chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, finding him guilty of contempt for disregarding a court judgment. The order was delivered on September 29, 2025, just days before Yakubu completed his second term and stepped down from the electoral commission.
The contempt case arose from Yakubu’s failure to implement a February 17, 2025 court judgment that specifically ordered INEC to relist the national officers of the Action Alliance party on its website. The party had argued that the Adekunle Rufai Omoaje-led National Executive Committee had been illegally removed from INEC’s portal.
In her ruling, Justice Demi-Ajayi stated, “The Inspector General of Police shall cause the arrest and shall charge the Defendants/Judgement Debtors for contempt and committal proceedings within 7 days of this Ruling.” The court also imposed a cost of ₦100,000 against both INEC and Professor Yakubu, payable to the plaintiffs.
The legal action was initiated by the Action Alliance party along with Professor Julius Adebowale, Engr. Olowookere Alabi, and several other state chairmen representing the Omoaje-led faction. Their suit sought to compel INEC to restore their officially recognized leadership structure on the commission’s portal.
Despite Yakubu’s subsequent handover to acting Chairman Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu on Tuesday, the court maintained that its orders must be respected. The ruling emphasizes that compliance with judicial decisions remains mandatory, even for high-ranking public officials transitioning out of office.
