Court stops removal of INEC chair over asset declaration

A High Court sitting in Abuja has stopped an application seeking the removal of the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, over alleged false asset declaration.

The court also barred the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) from arresting the INEC chairman over his asset declaration.

The presiding judge, Justice M. A. Hassan, who refused the application alongside the 14 reliefs brought by the claimants on Wednesday, held that Yakubu’s asset declaration was lawful, valid, and in compliance with the law.

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The ruling followed an originating summons marked FCT/HC/GAR/CV/47/2022 by Somadina Uzoabaka against the Attorney General of the Federation and Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, seeking among other things, an order of mandatory injunction directing and compelling the INEC chairman to recuse, excuse and exclude himself and or step down as the chairman of INEC pending the investigation and consideration of the various allegations against him by the various law enforcement agencies.

The plaintiff also prayed the court to stop the INEC chairman from holding or assuming any public office for a period of 10 years.

Responding to the allegations, Yakubu presented details of his filings before the court with exhibits showing the sources of money for the purchase of the properties which the plaintiff alleged were illegally acquired, and insisted that his assets declarations were validly done.

The Star