Civilian ‘coupist’ and Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barr. Yunusa Ari will mount the dock next Wednesday as his employer, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), begins his prosecution for attempting to botch the electoral will of the people of the state.
Ari had single-handedly declared All Progressives Congress (APC) Aisha Binani the governor-elect of the state even when he had no powers to do so and moreso when the result of the governorship election had not been finally collated.
His action, which INEC immediately reversed, was also declared illegal, null and void by the Commission, which further suspended him from office pending the conclusion of investigation into his actions.
Festus Okoye, who is INEC’s Commissioner for Public Information, however, said on Thursday that Ari will mount the dock on six charges of criminal conduct and abuse of his powers.
Though Mr Okoye did not read out the specific charges, he, however, said that Ari will stand trial before a High Court of Adamawa State where he committed the offence.
Okoye also disclosed that other persons arrested for violating the sanctity of the 2023 general elections would similarly be prosecuted.
A statement by Okoye to the effect reads: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held its regular weekly meeting today, Thursday, July 6 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, July 4 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. The Commission also assured Nigerians of immediate action on the matter.
“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 where the offence is committed, or the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. 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. Consequently, the Court has fixed Wednesday, July 12 2023, for the commencement of the trial.
“Meanwhile, the Commission is working with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the diligent prosecution of other cases.”
