INEC director on arrest warrant: I don’t think Mahmood Yakubu is in Nigeria

Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, publicity director, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says he does not think Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the electoral body, is in the country.

On Thursday, a federal high court sitting in Abuja, issued an arrest warrant on Yakubu over contempt of court order.

Stephen Pam, the presiding judge, ordered Yakubu to be arrested after the INEC chairman failed to appear before him for the third time.

Asked why Yakubu flouted the court order, Osaze-Uzzi told TheCable that he could not comment on the arrest warrant as the case is still in court.

He added that the commission would respond when it has been fully briefed on the issue.

“It is a legal matter, it is under process and I cannot comment on it. I am not aware that professor Yakubu is in the country,” Osaze-Uzzi said.

“I don’t think he is in the country but I cannot comment on that. We have not been briefed by the lawyers. When I am briefed, the commission will issue a statement. But I have not been able to talk to either Professor Yakubu or the lawyers.”