INEC files six-count charge against suspended Adamawa REC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has filed a six-count charge against Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the suspended resident electoral commissioner in Adamawa state.

The charges were filed at the high court in Yola, the state capital.

In a statement on Thursday, INEC said it took the action after reviewing the case file from the police which established a prima facie case against Yunusa-Ari.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had arrested Yunusa-Ari over his conduct during the governorship election in Adamawa.

He was, however, granted administrative bail and asked to report to the headquarters of the NPF every weekday.

The electoral umpire, in its statement, said the court has fixed July 12, 2023, for the commencement of trial.

“As provided by Section 145(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, an offence committed under the Act shall be triable in a Magistrate Court or a High Court of a State in which the offence is committed, or the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” the statement reads.

“Furthermore, Section 145(2) of the Act provides that a 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 Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, the Commission has filed a six-count charge against him at the Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola.”

THE ADAMAWA GUBER CONTROVERSY

Yunusa-Ari had stirred controversy by declaring Aisha Binani Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Adamawa election when the collation of the results was yet to be completed.

INEC declared the announcement null and void and summoned the REC to its headquarters in Abuja.

Subsequently, the electoral umpire wrote to the police to prosecute Yunusa-Ari over the electoral infraction.

On April 20, former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the suspension of the Adamawa REC pending the completion of investigation by the police.

A day later, INEC said it was not aware of the whereabouts of Yunusa-Ari.

Subsequently, in an interview published by BBC Hausa, Yunusa-Ari said he was not offered money to declare Binani as the winner of the election.

The suspended REC also said he never went into hiding.