NRM: INEC boss, Yakubu risks jail as Abuja court serves him Form 49

Keep up with the latest news Keep up with the latest news and be part of our weekly giveaways and airtime sharing; follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates. Click to Follow us

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has been officially served with Form 49 by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The legal notice was delivered on Tuesday by court bailiff Ayuba Sule, acting on behalf of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).

This comes after Yakubu was earlier served Form 48 last week, a preliminary step in contempt proceedings.

Under Nigerian law, Form 49 is a significant legal document issued to a person accused of contempt, requiring them to explain why they should not be imprisoned for failing to comply with a court order.

It follows the issuance of Form 48, which serves as a formal warning about the legal consequences of defying a court ruling. If the recipient does not act within two days of receiving Form 48, the aggrieved party can request that Form 49 be issued to initiate potential committal proceedings.

This legal process stems from a judgment delivered by Justice Egwuatu of the Federal High Court on March 5, 2025, which directed INEC to recognize and uphold the decisions made during the National Rescue Movement’s Emergency National Convention held on January 17, 2025.

“By the service of Form 49, Mahmoud has just a few days to comply with the judgment of the court or he will be docked in the court, where he will have to explain to the court why he has refused to obey its judgment,” a statement by NRM, signed by its Spokesperson, Chinedu Anselem, said.

“If history is anything to go by, Mahmoud’s defiance to Court Orders and judgments may have earned him an indelible scar that can make him easily identifiable wherever he goes.

“The Party is resolute in its determination to prove to Nigerians that our primary duty as citizens is to hold public office holders accountable and ensure they operate within the frames of the law. They must not be allowed to play God.

“And for us in the NRM, our determination and resolve are a clarion call on Nigerians that the rule of law must prevail.”

In response to a question by reporters during a media parley on Wednesday, INEC Chairman, Prof Yakubu said he is used to being served Form 48 and Form 49.

He, however, through the legal adviser of the Commission, said the matter was already being resolved.

Please don’t forget to “Allow the notification” so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it. 
Drop your comment in the section below, and don’t forget to share the post.