The Federal High Court in Abuja has formally served INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu with contempt proceedings initiated by the National Rescue Mission, marking an escalation in the political party’s battle for recognition of its leadership.
Court bailiff Ayuba Sule executed the service of Form 48 – a notice of consequences for disobeying court orders – at INEC’s Abuja headquarters on Tuesday, complying with Justice Obiora Egwuatu’s June 17 ruling permitting substituted service. The notice stems from INEC’s alleged refusal to recognize Chief Edozie Njoku’s NRM executive committee despite a March 5 mandamus order.
NRM’s National Publicity Secretary Anselem Chinedu Nebeife detailed the dramatic service attempt: “Mr Ayuba first got to the INEC Chairman’s office, but his staff requested him to identify himself… After reading the document, they quickly gave it back and told him to visit the legal department.” At the legal department, “another drama ensued” before the bailiff ultimately “dropped the court order and Form 48 in front of the legal department.”
The dispute originates from NRM’s January 17 emergency convention which sought to “fill vacancies and correct lopsidedness” in its NEC. In court filings, NRM’s counsel Oladimeji Ekengba noted: “Despite being aware, the Judgement Debtor (INEC) refused to comply… to date,” prompting the contempt motion to prevent reducing the court “to a toothless bulldog.”
An affidavit by Adebayo Wasiu explained the substituted service request: “The Judgement Debtor/Respondent’s Chairman placed numerous protocols, and the bailiff… will not be able to serve him personally.” The document revealed INEC’s legal representative M.A. Bawa witnessed the original judgment but the commission still ignored compliance.
Justice Egwuatu has adjourned further proceedings to July 15, as the electoral body faces mounting pressure to recognize Njoku’s faction or risk its chairman being held in contempt – a development that could disrupt Nigeria’s electoral governance amid ongoing preparations for future polls.
