A Federal High Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of former INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu over his alleged contempt of court. The order follows his failure to comply with a prior court judgment mandating him to release certain documents and allow access to records.
The judge, in a scathing ruling, held that the contempt was not just personal disobedience but a threat to the rule of law and the credibility of public institutions. Court spokesman indicated that the warrant gives Yakubu until a stipulated deadline to surrender himself or face coercive arrest.
Yakubu’s legal team is expected to file motions for stay or appeal, citing procedural and jurisdictional concerns. The development has generated sharp reactions: some see it as judicial activism restoring accountability, while others view it as potentially politicized.
The case will be closely watched, as it implicates accountability in electoral administration and sets precedents for holding former officials to judicial orders.
