The National Chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), Barrister Kenneth Udeze, has debunked reports claiming that the Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, ordered the arrest and imprisonment of the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
Udeze, in a statement on Thursday, described the reports as false, misleading, and malicious, noting that no such order was issued by any court in Nigeria against the former INEC chairman. He challenged those behind the story to produce a certified true copy of the alleged judgment.
According to him, the rumor emanated from members of a rival faction led by Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, who allegedly approached the Federal High Court in Osogbo under suspicious circumstances in an attempt to mislead the public and the judiciary.
He explained that the matter between the two factions of the Action Alliance is already before the Supreme Court under Appeal No. SC/CV/162/2024: Adekunle Rufai Omoaje & Ors vs Kenneth Udeze & Ors, and as such, any purported ruling from a lower court would amount to a violation of judicial hierarchy.
“The claim that a court ordered the arrest of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu is completely baseless. There is no such judgment anywhere. We are aware of some mischievous elements who have been shopping for conflicting rulings to confuse Nigerians. But we remain focused on the legal process already before the Supreme Court,” Udeze said.
He urged the media to verify information before publication, warning that sensational and unverified reports could cause unnecessary tension and damage reputations.
Meanwhile, reports had circulated online alleging that Justice Adefunmilola Demi-Ajayi of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, issued a ruling directing the Inspector General of Police to arrest Prof. Yakubu within seven days over alleged contempt for failing to comply with an earlier judgment ordering INEC to re-list the Omoaje-led faction of the Action Alliance on its website.
However, Udeze has described the story as a desperate smear campaign, insisting that the Osogbo case was “fraudulently initiated” and that his legal team has taken steps to challenge it.
He reaffirmed that the Independent National Electoral Commission still recognizes him as the authentic National Chairman of the Action Alliance pending the final decision of the Supreme Court.
“We call on all genuine members of the Action Alliance and the general public to disregard these fake reports. The judiciary remains the last hope of the common man, and we have full confidence that justice will prevail,” he added.