Hudu Yunusa-Ari in police custody on Tuesday May 2, 2023. (Facebook/Nigeria Police Force)
Yunusa-Ari is facing a six-count charge over his role in the 2023 governorship election in the Adamawa State.
By Musa Mohammed
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police have not failed to amuse Nigerians and the world on their handling of serious political matters, as they could not produce the suspended INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Hudi Yunusa-Ari, to court on Monday November 6, 2023.
As a result, the High Court in Yola, Adamawa State, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police to ensure the presence of the suspended INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Hudi Yunusa-Ari, to the court on November 23, 2023.
Justice Benjamin Manji of the state High Court in Yola gave the order on Monday, while the Channelstv reported that the prosecution counsel to INEC, Justice Rotimi Jacobs, and the police claimed that they made several attempts to serve Hudi Yunusa-Ari the hearing notice by visiting his home.
The defendant’s surety also could not be traced, according to the police..
But the presiding judge, Benjamin Manji, however, wondered why the police who granted him bail through a surety could neither get the defendant nor the surety.
He, therefore, granted the prosecution counsel’s request of two weeks for the defendant to appear before the court.
Also read: INEC, RECs review 2023 general election in Abuja
After the sitting, counsel to INEC, Rotimi Jacobs, assured that he ex-REC would appear on the adjourned date.
Recall that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had given the nod for INEC to prosecute Yunusa-Ari who is facing a six-count charge over the role he played in the 2023 governorship election in the state.
The prosecutor is also pushing for an arrest warrant to be issued on him.
Following the conclusion of the supplementary governorship on April 15, 2023, the suspended REC announced the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Aishatu Ahmed Binani, as the winner midway into the collation of results.
His action attracted widespread condemnation with INEC voiding the declaration and placing him on an indefinite suspension.
valoa2000@yahoo.com
