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Suspended Adamawa REC Yunusa-Ari Fails To Appear In Court
Suspended Adamawa REC Yunusa-Ari Fails To Appear In Court
Hudi Yunusa-Ari, the suspended Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, did not appear at the State High Court in Yola as scheduled for his arraignment on Monday.
The absence of the accused led to a court order for INEC to ensure his presence during the next court session on November 23, 2023.
Justice Benjamin Manji, presiding over the State High Court in Yola, made the decision due to the failure of the police to serve Yunusa-Ari with the hearing notice.
According to the prosecution counsel representing INEC, Justice Rotimi Jacobs, the police made multiple unsuccessful attempts to serve Yunusa-Ari with the hearing notice, including visiting his residence. Furthermore, the whereabouts of the defendant’s surety remain unknown.
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Justice Manji expressed his astonishment at the inability of the police, who had previously granted bail through a surety, to locate either the defendant or the surety. In response to the prosecution counsel’s request, the judge granted a two-week extension for the defendant to appear in court.
Following the sitting, counsel to INEC, Rotimi Jacobs, assured journalists that every effort would be made to ensure Yunusa-Ari’s appearance on the adjourned date.
The Federal High Court in Abuja had authorized INEC to prosecute Yunusa-Ari on a six-count charge related to his actions during the 2023 governorship election in Adamawa State. The prosecutor is also seeking an arrest warrant for the suspended REC.
Yunusa-Ari’s suspension stemmed from his controversial announcement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Aishatu Ahmed Binani, as the winner during the collation of results for the supplementary governorship election on April 15th. This decision sparked widespread condemnation, resulting in INEC nullifying the declaration and placing him on an indefinite suspension.
