The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has sued the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, for failing to investigate allegations of electoral offences committed during the 2023 general elections. Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on 18 July, 2024 ordered INEC to pursue cases of bribery against state governors and their deputies, and other electoral offences committed during the 2023 general elections.
The judge also instructed INEC to seek the appointment of an independent counsel to probe allegations of electoral offences including bribery, vote-buying, conspiracy, and undue influence against state governors and their deputies during the 2023 general elections.
However, INEC and Professor Yakubu have failed and/or refused to implement the judgment.
The court in the notice of consequences of disobedience to order warned Professor Yakubu that he would be guilty of contempt of Court and liable to be committed to prison if he fails to obey the judgment orders.
The notice, addressed to Professor Yakubu, read in part: “take notice that unless you obey the Orders contained in the Judgment of the 18th July 2024 made by Justice Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja in Suit Number: FHC/ABJ/CS/583/2023, a copy of which is hereto attached, you will be guilty of contempt of Court and will be liable to be committed to prison.”
SERAP, in a statement by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, said it was unacceptable to take the court, which is the guardian of justice in this country, for a ride.
The statement, read in part: “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.”
“The recurring cases of electoral bribery and violence make a mockery of Nigeria’s electoral process and participatory democracy. The latest allegations of electoral offences in Edo state show that INEC has learnt little or nothing from the well-documented problems during the 2023 general elections.”
