A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the National Rescue Movement (NRM) permission to serve court documents on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, through substituted means.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order, allowing the documents—including Form 48, a notice of potential contempt of court—to be delivered to any INEC staff member at its headquarters in Abuja. The name of the person who receives the documents must be recorded in an affidavit and filed with the court.
The decision followed a motion by NRM’s legal counsel, who explained that efforts to serve Yakubu directly had been unsuccessful due to strict protocols at INEC, which only accepts legal documents at a designated registry near its gates.
The dispute stems from INEC’s alleged refusal to comply with a court order issued on March 5, which directed the commission to recognize the outcome of the party’s emergency convention held on January 17. At the convention, Chief Edozie Njoku was elected as the NRM’s National Chairman.
Despite an earlier ruling on January 16 instructing INEC to monitor and accept the convention, the commission reportedly failed to act, prompting the party to return to court and initiate contempt proceedings.
The matter has been adjourned until July 15.
