INEC Sues Suspended Adamawa REC, Files A Six-Count Charge
*Hearing commences on July 12.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has taken the suspended Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Yunusa Hudu Ari, to court over his role in the state governorship election.
In a statement made available to the media by INEC's National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education, Barrister Festus Okoye, on Thursday, INEC said it instituted a six count charge against Ari at the Adamawa High Court Yola for his role in the Adamawa governorship election.
The statement added that hearing on the suit will commence on Wednesday, July 12.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held its regular weekly meeting today, Thursday 6th July 2023, and discussed, among other issues, the progress with the prosecution of electoral offenders.
“It would be recalled that at the meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) two days ago on Tuesday 4th July 2023, the Commission confirmed the receipt of case files from the Nigeria Police following the conclusion of investigation into alleged electoral offences during the 2023 General Election, including the one involving the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) deployed to Adamawa State, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari.
“Having reviewed the case file from the Police which established a prima facie case against Barr. 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 12th July 2023 for commencement of trial," Okoye's statement read in part.
Ari got into INEC 's black book during the controversial Adamawa state governorship re-run election after declaring candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Aisha Binani, as winner against incumbent governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ahmadu Umaru Finitri, even while result collation was still in progress.
On Tuesday, INEC chairman, Prof mahmood Yakubu, disclosed that investigations into the matter had been concluded by the police and handed over to the commission. He promised to keep Nigerians abreast of further development.
What's Your Reaction?
