Electoral offence: SERAP sues INEC chair, Yakubu

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) isn’t letting this one slide—they’ve taken the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) boss, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to court for failing to act on accusations of electoral misconduct during the 2023 elections.

Now, here’s the kicker: Back in July 2024, Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu of the Federal High Court in Abuja gave INEC clear marching orders. The commission was told to go after cases of bribery involving state governors, their deputies, and other shady activities tied to those elections.

The judge didn’t just stop there. He ordered INEC to get an independent counsel on board to dig into all sorts of mess—bribery, vote-buying, conspiracy, and undue influence—especially against state officials. It’s like saying, “Enough with the games, get to work.”

But what happened next? Well, INEC and Professor Yakubu seem to have taken those orders and tossed them aside. They’ve either ignored or outright refused to follow through.

The court wasn’t having it. They shot off a notice to Yakubu, basically saying, “If you keep ignoring us, you’ll be guilty of contempt, and we won’t hesitate to send you to prison.”

The notice didn’t mince words. It read: “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 isn’t pulling any punches either. In a statement from its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, they made it clear that ignoring a court order isn’t just careless—it’s downright dangerous for justice.

“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 statement read.

SERAP didn’t stop there. Oluwadare called out the endless cycle of bribery and violence that’s been dragging Nigeria’s elections through the mud. “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.”

It’s clear SERAP is fed up—and they’re not the only ones…[READ MORE HERE]>>