Obey Court Order Probing Electoral Bribery Suspects or Risk Contempt Charge – SERAP to INEC

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to immediately enforce court judgments on bribery cases committed by public officials during the 2023 general elections.

This was disclosed on Saturday by Deputy Director of SERAP, Kolawole Oluwadere, following a judgement delivered on July 18, 2024, by Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu of the Federal High Court Abuja, ordering INEC to:

..Enforce and pursue bribery cases against state governors and their deputies, and other electoral offences committed during the 2023 general elections.

In the judgement, Justice Egwuatu ordered that INEC “seek the appointment of an independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral offences including bribery, vote-buying, conspiracy, and undue influence against state governors and their deputies during the 2023 general elections.”

The court further ordered that all perpetrators in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other law enforcement agencies be prosecuted “swiftly.”

According to SERAP, “It is unacceptable for INEC to take the court, which is the guardian of justice in this country, for a ride.”

Meanwhile, SERAP has maintained the position that if the recommended judgments are not adhered to by INEC within 7 days of receiving the letter or its publication, the electoral body and Yakubu will be sued for contempt of court.

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