Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi of a Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the arrest and imprisonment of Professor Mahmood Yakubu for failing to comply with a previous court judgment.
Professor Yakubu, who recently stepped down as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after completing his term, was cited for not implementing a court order to relist national officers of the Action Alliance party on INEC’s website.
The order, delivered on Monday, September 29, 2025, arose from a suit numbered FHC/OS/194/2024, in which the party sought to compel INEC and Professor Yakubu to restore the names of the Rufai Omoaje-led National Executive Committee, which had been unlawfully removed from the Commission’s portal.
A certified copy of the judgment states: “Upon the Motion on Notice dated the 14th of May 2025… the Plaintiffs/Judgement Creditors seek the following reliefs:
‘AN ORDER of committal to the Correctional Centre (formerly Prison) of the 1st Defendant (INEC) and the 2nd Defendant (Prof. Mahmood Yakubu) (Contemnors) 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 1 Defendant (INEC) and 2nd Defendant (Prof. Mahmood Yakubu) (contemnors) 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 that was unconstitutionally removed from INEC’s State Portal, be restored and that the 1st and 2nd Defendant respect all Judgements in favour of the National Committee (NEC) of Hon. Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, among other orders.
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An Order for costs for the 1st and 2nd Defendants (Contemnors) acts of contempt resulting in financial and private injuries to the Plaintiffs.
And for such order or further orders that this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.’”
The court further directed that the Inspector-General of Police shall cause the arrest and charge the Defendants/Judgement Debtors for contempt and committal proceedings within seven days of the ruling. Additionally, a cost of N100,000 was imposed against the defendants in favour of the plaintiffs.
The suit lists as plaintiffs 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. INEC and Professor Mahmood Yakubu are named as defendants.
Professor Yakubu officially stepped down as INEC Chairman on Tuesday, with Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu taking over as acting chairman.
