BREAKING: High Court Orders Arrest Of Former INEC Chairman Yakubu
The Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, over alleged contempt of court.
The fresh order came just hours after Yakubu’s exit from office as INEC chairman.
The ruling followed a motion filed by the Action Alliance (AA), which accused INEC and its former chairman of failing to comply with a subsisting court judgment delivered by Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi in suit number FHC/OS/CS/194/2024.
The earlier judgment directed INEC to upload the names of the party’s National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, and members of its National Executive Committee (NEC) on the commission’s official portal.
The Genius Media understands that Justice Demi-Ajayi had also held that the party’s elective convention held on October 7, 2023, which produced Omoaje as national chairman, was legitimate, having been monitored and supervised by INEC officials in line with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
While INEC claimed it had complied with the court’s directive, the Action Alliance leadership disagreed, insisting that the commission had failed to upload Omoaje’s name on its website despite the judgment.
Although the names of state chairmen and NEC members under Omoaje’s leadership have reportedly been listed on the portal, the court observed that Omoaje’s own name was missing, a development it described as a breach of its order.
Court Issues Fresh Warrant of Arrest
In a fresh order dated October 7, 2025, and signed by O.M. Kilani on behalf of the Court Registrar, the court directed the Inspector-General of Police to effect Yakubu’s arrest and commence committal proceedings within seven days.
“It is hereby ordered that the Inspector-General of Police shall cause the arrest and shall charge the defendant/judgment debtors for contempt and committal proceedings within seven days of this ruling,” Daily Post quoted the order as stating.
The court also awarded a cost of ₦100,000 against the judgment creditors.
The legal tussle between INEC and the Action Alliance faction led by Adekunle Omoaje has lingered since 2023 over the commission’s recognition of the party’s leadership.
While INEC had monitored the Omoaje-led convention, internal disputes within the party reportedly delayed full compliance with the court’s directive.
This situation has now escalated into a contempt charge against the former electoral chief.
