A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for arrest of the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman Prof. Yakubu Mahmood.
It followed Mahmood’s failure to appear in court to show cause why he should not be committed to prison.
Justice Stephen Dalypop Pam gave the order of arrest following the INEC boss’ absence in court yesterday for the third time.
Justice Pam, on July 5 and 10, ordered Yakubu to appear in court, which he failed to obey.
The warrant of arrest is coming on the heels of a motion Ejike Eguebego had filed against the INEC chairman for refusal to recognise him as People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) Chairman in Anambra State in compliance with the Supreme Court’s judgment of December 2014.
Counsel to the plaintiff Mr. James Odiba had prayed the court to commute the INEC Chairman to prison for disregarding the judgment of the apex court. Odiba added that contrary to the letter, both INEC and its chairman has been relating with another faction of Anambra State PDP.
The trial judge, in his ruling, held that the disobedience of INEC Chairman would no longer be tolerated.
Justice Pam threw out the application for stay of proceedings as an appeal has been filed before the court of appeal to challenge the court summon on the INEC chairman.
Justice Pam dismissed the application by Mahmood through his counsel that he was unable to appear in court as ordered because he was leading a team of electoral officers from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) states to Mali.
He further held that the reason was not tenable because the INEC Chairman had on three occasions refused to honour the invitation of court against him to defend the contempt charges.
Justice Pam said the court would not fold its arm and allow it to become toothless dog by the defendant
“It is sad that the Prof. Yakubu has chosen not to obey the order of this court in respect of this contempt charge.
“He should not be allowed to continue to take the judiciary for a joke,” Justice Pam held.
At the resumed hearing in the case yesterday, Mr. Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), counsel to Mahmood, told the court that his client was absent in court because he was attending an urgent national assignment in Mali.
The judge faulted the letter by Awomolo dated July 27 making excuse for Mahmood’s absence in court on grounds that it contradicted another letter by his client dated July 29.
He consequently ordered that Mahmood should be arrested for his flagrant disobedience of court orders by refusing to appear in court, and adjourned the matter until Aug. 8
“A bench warrant is hereby issued against Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, INEC Chairman; this repeated act of disobedience to court order to show cause can no longer be accepted by this court,” the judge said.