A Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has directed that former INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu be arrested and jailed for failing to obey a court judgment. Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi delivered the order on Monday, September 29, 2025.
Yakubu, who has since stepped down from his role at the Independent National Electoral Commission, was held in contempt for neglecting a directive to reinstate national officers of the Action Alliance party onto INEC’s website.
The underlying case, FHC/OS/194/2024, was brought by Action Alliance. The party demanded that INEC and Yakubu restore the listing of their national executive under the Rufai Omoaje-led leadership, arguing the names were unlawfully removed from the commission’s online portal.
A certified copy of the court’s ruling, secured by Vanguard, states:
“An Order of committal to the Correctional Centre … of the 1st Defendant (INEC) and the 2nd Defendant (Prof. Mahmood Yakubu) … for disobeying the Judgement/Orders … delivered on the 17th of February 2025.”
The reliefs sought also include a command that INEC and Yakubu comply with the judgment ordering the restoration of the Action Alliance national executive names, and an award of costs for damages suffered by the plaintiffs.
In its order, the court directed:
“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.”
Additionally, the court imposed a cost of ₦100,000 against Yakubu and INEC in favour of the plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs comprise the Action Alliance party, Prof. Julius Adebowale, Engr. Olowookere Alabi, Barr. Chinwuba Zulyke, Oladele Sunday, Simon Itokwe, Araoye Oyewole, and other state chairmen acting on behalf of their colleagues. The defendants are INEC and Prof. Yakubu.
At the time of the judgment, Yakubu had not yet vacated office. He formally relinquished the chairmanship on Tuesday, and Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu has since been ushered in as acting chairman.
