A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris to arrest and produce the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu before the Court on Monday, August 14.

Giving the order on Wednesday, the presiding judge, Justice Stephen Pam said the directive was because of the alleged refusal of the INEC boss to obey a valid order of the court.

Justice Pam had on August 1, 2018, given the warrant of arrest on Prof. Mahmood following his absence in Court to show cause why he should not be sent to prison for contempt of court.

The contempt proceeding was filed by Ejike Oguebego and Chuks Okoye, the Chairman and Legal Adviser respectively of the Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party .

Counsel to the plaintiff, Goddy Uche (SAN) had earlier told the court that the INEC Chairman had blatantly refused to obey an order summoning him to appear in court.

Justice Pam then demanded to know from Mahmood’s counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) why his client was not in Court and he responded: “My lord, I don’t know where he is, if Goddy knows, he should go and bring him.”

Awomolo continued: “My lord, it is beyond my brief to produce the INEC Chairman in court. The Court has issued a bench warrant against Prof. Mahmood, so let the IGP produce him in Court.”

In his ruling, Justice Pam said the matter had been adjourned for continuation of the contempt proceeding and for the INEC Chairman to show cause why he should not be committed to prison for contempt.

Justice Pam further noted that since the counsel to the INEC boss had said he did not know the whereabouts of Prof. Mahmood, the Police IG had been mandated to bring him to Court on August 14.