Court bailiff serves INEC chairman with contempt charge

Mahmood

The Federal High Court in Abuja has served the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, with a contempt charge initiated against him by the National Rescue Mission.

A court bailiff, Ayuba Sule, served the Form 48 at the INEC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, following a ruling by Justice Obiora Egwuatu on June 17.

The Form 48 is a notice outlining the consequences of disobeying a valid court order and the first step in contempt and committal proceedings.

The court had earlier directed that the processes be served on the INEC Chairman through substituted means, allowing the bailiff to deliver them to any member of staff at the Commission.

In a statement signed by the NRM’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Anselem Nebeife, on Friday, the party revealed that INEC officials initially declined to accept the service.

The bailiff subsequently left the documents at the commission’s legal department.

“Mr Ayuba first visited the INEC chairman’s office, but his staff requested identification. Punch