National Publicity Secretary, (NRM), has Thursday served the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral(INEC) Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, FORM 48 as ordered by the court.
The March 5, 2025, Judgment of the Court clearly instructed INEC to obey the January 16, 2025 order by monitoring the Party’s Emergency National Convention which held on the January 17, 2025.
When INEC refused to obey this order, the Court went ahead to give judgement on the substantive suit ordering INEC to recognize and accept the outcome of the said Emergency National Convention which produced new National Executives for the Party, under the ebullient leadership of Chief Edozie Njoku.
However, NRM, had on June 17, 2025, secured an Ex Parte Order to serve Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, the INEC Chairman, through substituted service.
This order implies that the court can serve any INEC staff with the court processes.
A statement signed Anselem Chinedu Nebeife, the National Publicity Secretary, (NRM) stated that there was palpable fear at the Commission, when the Court Bailiff, Mr. Ayuba Sule, went to serve Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu FORM 48.
According to the statement,
Mr. Ayuba first got to the INEC Chairman’s office, but his staff requested him to identify himself. Ayuba obliged them his official identity card, and after reading the content of the document he handed over to them, quietly gave it back to him and told him to visit the Legal Department.
“On getting to the Legal Department, another drama ensued involving Ayuba and another INEC staff.
Mr. Anselem revealed that upon handing over the document to the staff, the said staff stealthily scanned through and speedily returned it and said, “Can’t you see that this is Form 48, please, I love my job ooo.”
He further stated that Ayuba, angered by their disposition, dropped the Court Order and the accompanying Form 48 in front of the Legal Department and left the Commission.
Recall that the Federal High Court, Abuja (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/45/2025) per Egwuatu had on June 17, 2025 issued an Ex Parte Order for the National Rescue Movement (NRM) to serve Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, the INEC Chairman, through substituted service.
The statement reads in parts, “It is deeply concerning and worrisome that INEC under Mahmoud is becoming a ridicule.
“It was Mahmoud’s defiance to and utter disregard of this judgment that necessitated NRM going back to Court.
“In the legal sense, Form 48 is a quasi-criminal proceeding which tends to properly educate and aware a Defendant of the implications of his disobedience to subsisting Court judgment.
“Clearly, Mahmoud’s name is synonymous with disobedience to court orders and judgments. What transpired at INEC today between the Court bailiff and some staff of the Commission is disrespectful to the judiciary and an utter disregard for the rule of law.
Concluding, he reiterated that NRM is determined to hold Mahmoud to account and ensure he doesn’t go scot free with his incurable penchant for abuse of the judiciary.
