By Charles Pemu 
A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the arrest and imprisonment of the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, over his alleged disobedience to a subsisting court judgment.
The order for committal to the Correctional Centre (prison) was delivered on Monday, September 29, 2025, just before Professor Yakubu officially completed his term in office. The court directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to carry out the arrest and charge the former INEC boss with contempt proceedings within seven days.
Details of the Case:
| Key Details | Description |
| Ex-INEC Chairman | Professor Mahmood Yakubu |
| Acting INEC Chairman | Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu (who took over after Yakubu stepped down). |
| Court | Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun State |
| Presiding Judge | Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi |
| Date of Order | Monday, September 29, 2025 (before Yakubu’s official handover) |
| Suit Number | FHC/OS/CS/194/2024 |
| Plaintiff/Applicant | Action Alliance (AA), along with the Rufai Omoaje-led National Executive and State Chairmen. |
| Reason for Contempt | Disobeying a court judgment delivered on February 17, 2025, which ordered INEC to re-enlist/restore the names of the Rufai Omoaje-led National Executive Committee of the Action Alliance on the Commission’s portal. |
| Court’s Directive | Ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to “cause the arrest and shall charge the Defendants/Judgement Debtors for contempt and committal proceedings within 7 days of this Ruling.” |
| Penalty | Committal to the Correctional Centre (prison) and a cost of ₦100,000 against the defendants/judgment debtors. |
The ruling has cast a shadow on Professor Yakubu’s final moments in office. Following his departure on Tuesday, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu has taken over as the Acting Chairman of INEC.