A Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has issued an order for the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, for alleged contempt of court.
The order stems from INEC’s alleged failure to comply with a court ruling that favored the Action Alliance (AA). The party had taken legal action to compel the electoral commission to recognize state chairmen elected under the leadership of Adekunle Rufai Omoaje.
Presiding Judge Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi criticized the electoral body for disobeying a valid judgment and directed Prof. Yakubu to restore the names of the affected chairmen on INEC’s portal within seven days. The court also imposed a fine of N100,000 on the INEC Chairman.
The court had previously validated the convention that produced Omoaje as National Chairman of the party, noting that it was monitored by INEC and conducted in accordance with the Electoral Act and the party’s constitution. The judge warned that failure to comply with the latest order within the stipulated period would result in Prof. Yakubu’s immediate arrest by the police.
