Contempt of Court: NRM Threatens Arrest Warrant Against INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu
Written By Okafor JosephJuly 18,2025
The National Rescue Movement (NRM) has issued a strong warning to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, threatening to seek a bench warrant for his arrest over alleged contempt of court.
The development unfolded on Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where NRM’s legal counsel, Oladimeji Ekengba, expressed outrage at Yakubu’s absence in court during a contempt proceeding.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu had earlier, on June 17, 2025, granted NRM’s application to serve contempt charges on the INEC chairman through substituted means. The ruling came after Ekengba filed a motion ex-parte, requesting permission to serve Yakubu via any INEC staff member at the commission’s national headquarters.
The contempt charges stem from INEC’s alleged disobedience of a mandamus order issued on March 5, which directed the commission to recognize the Chief Edozie Njoku-led executive as the valid leadership of the NRM. The party claimed that an emergency convention held on January 17 was meant to fill vacancies and address imbalances within its National Executive Committee (NEC).
When the matter was called on Friday, Ekengba expressed disappointment that Yakubu failed to appear, despite the seriousness of the contempt allegations. “I am shocked that he is absent in a contempt proceeding that is a criminal matter,” he said.
However, Yakubu’s legal representative, Alhassan Umar (SAN), informed the court that a preliminary objection had been filed on July 17, contesting the jurisdiction of the court. Umar argued that the objection should be heard before the contempt matter proceeds.
Ekengba countered by citing a Supreme Court precedent (Ebhodaghe vs. Okoye, 2004), stating that contempt proceedings take precedence over all other legal motions, including jurisdictional objections. “A party in contempt cannot seek relief from the same court,” he insisted, while requesting the court to issue a bench warrant for Yakubu’s arrest.
Justice Egwuatu, addressing the court, criticized the lack of respect for the judiciary, noting, “No matter how highly placed anyone is, they must obey the law. Otherwise, it makes a mockery of the judicial system.”
The judge emphasized that INEC, as a neutral electoral body, should not obstruct political parties from resolving their internal affairs. He subsequently adjourned the matter to October 8, 2025, for hearing.Published by SpringnewsNG Media Limited
