Embattled Adamawa REC Ari to face Six-count charges as INEC heads to court
Hudu Yunusa-Ari, a Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State who was suspended, has been charged on six counts by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to Festus Okoye, a spokesman for INEC, the accusations were brought before the High Court in Yola, the state’s capital.
According to a statement released by Okoye on Thursday, the electoral body took the decision after studying the police case file, which established a preliminary indictment of Yunusa-Ari.
The Commission has filed a six-count complaint against Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari at the Adamawa State High Court in Yola after reviewing the case file from the Police, which established a preliminary case against him.
As a result, the Court set the start of the trial for Wednesday, July 12, 2023,” the statement reads;
“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 the commencement of trial,” the statement read.
“Meanwhile, the Commission is working with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the diligent prosecution of other cases.”
After the supplementary election in Adamawa on April 15, 2023, Yunusa-Ari courted controversy when he declared Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner while the results were still being tallied.
Due to the circumstance, Yunusa-Ari’s decision was overturned by INEC, and he was suspended during the time that then-President Muhammadu Buhari requested a thorough inquiry into the case.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) incumbent governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, was subsequently declared the legitimate victor of the drama-filled election by INEC.
Yunusa-Ari was subsequently detained by the Nigerian Police Force for his actions during the governor of Adamawa’s race.