The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over his failure to investigate alleged electoral offences from the 2023 general elections. This follows an order by Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 18, 2024, directing INEC to probe cases of bribery and other electoral misconduct involving state governors, their deputies, and other officials.
Justice Egwuatu’s ruling also called for the appointment of an independent counsel to examine allegations of bribery, vote-buying, conspiracy, and undue influence during the elections. Despite this mandate, INEC and Professor Yakubu have yet to take any steps to implement the court’s judgment.
The court issued a warning to Professor Yakubu through a formal notice of consequences, stating that failure to comply would constitute contempt of court, potentially leading to imprisonment. The notice emphasized, “Unless you obey the Orders contained in the Judgment of the 18th July 2024 made by Justice Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja…you will be guilty of contempt of Court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”
In a statement, SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare criticized INEC’s inaction, calling it an affront to the judicial system. “Despite the service of the certified true copy of the judgment on INEC and Professor Yakubu, they have failed and/or refused to obey it,” he stated. Oluwadare further noted that repeated instances of electoral misconduct undermine Nigeria’s democratic process, adding that recent allegations in Edo state illustrate INEC’s lack of progress in addressing election-related issues.
SERAP continues to urge INEC to act on the judgment and uphold electoral accountability in Nigeria.
