• Trial commences July 12
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has filed a six-count charge against suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa Ari.
The charge was filed at the Adamawa State High Court, Yola.
National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement, said the commission reached the decision to prosecute Ari after its weekly meeting, held in Abuja, yesterday.
Recall that INEC had suspended Ari for the role he played during collation of the Adamawa State supplementary governorship election results. The embattled REC was accused of usurping duties of the state governorship election Returning Officer by announcing the All Progressives Congress candidate, Senator Aishatu Dahiru, popularly known as Binani, as winner of the poll.
Though INEC voided the declaration, it summoned the REC over the controversial declaration. Also, former President Muhammadu Buhari ordered full investigation regarding the electoral commissioner and security personnel present at the time of the declaration.
INEC, eventually, concluded the election and announced Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as authentic winner. Thereafter, security agencies arrested Ari and presented his case file to the commission for subsequent decision.
Okoye, in the statement, confirmed that the commission received case files from the Nigeria Police, following conclusion of investigation into alleged electoral offence.
He said: “As provided by Section 145(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, an offence committed under the Act shall be tried in a Magistrate Court or a High Court of a state where the offence was committed, or the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Furthermore, Section 145(2) of the Act provides that prosecution under the Act shall be undertaken by legal officers of the commission, or any legal practitioner appointed by it.
“Having reviewed the case file from the police, which established a prima facie case against Hudu Yunusa Ari, the commission has filed a six-count charge against him at the Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola. Consequently, the court has fixed Wednesday, July 12, 2023 for commencement of trial.
“Meanwhile, the commission is working with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for diligent prosecution of other cases.”
