The Federal High Court in Abuja has formally served the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, with Form 48 — a legal notice warning of the consequences of disobeying a valid court order.
A court bailiff, Mr. Ayuba Sule, executed the substituted service on Thursday afternoon at the INEC headquarters, in line with an ex parte order granted by Justice Egwuatu in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/45/2025.
Despite efforts to deliver the document directly, staff of INEC’s Legal Department declined to acknowledge receipt. One staff member reportedly said, “Can’t you see this is Form 48? Please, I love my job,” after glancing through the papers. Ultimately, the bailiff dropped the court order and accompanying documents in front of the department and departed.
The substituted service was approved by the court following Prof. Yakubu’s alleged failure to comply with — or legally challenge — an earlier judgment delivered on March 5, 2025. That ruling directed him to recognize the National Working Committee (NWC) of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), led by Chief Edozie Njoku.
NRM approached the court again after Prof. Yakubu allegedly ignored the judgment, prompting the issuance of Form 48 — a statutory notice under Nigerian law that precedes potential contempt proceedings. It is intended to alert a respondent to the legal consequences of defying a court order.
The NRM has reiterated its commitment to holding INEC accountable, stressing that it will pursue every lawful avenue to ensure that the will of the court is enforced and justice prevails.
