The suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa State, Hudi Yunusa-Ari did not appear for his scheduled arraignment at the State High Court in Yola on Monday.
Justice Benjamin Manji of the State High Court in Yola has consequently directed INEC to ensure his presence in court at the upcoming session scheduled for November 23, 2023.
This decision comes in light of the police’s inability to successfully serve the hearing notice to Yunusa-Ari.
According to Justice Rotimi Jacobs, who serves as the prosecution counsel for INEC, the police attempted multiple times to deliver the hearing notice by visiting Yunusa-Ari’s residence. Additionally, they were unable to locate the defendant’s surety.
Justice Manji, the presiding judge, expressed bewilderment at the police’s failure to locate either the defendant or the surety, considering that they had previously granted him bail through the surety.
As a result, he approved the prosecution counsel’s request for a two-week extension for the defendant to make his appearance in court.
Following the court session, Rotimi Jacobs, INEC’s legal representative, assured reporters that every effort would be made to ensure the defendant’s presence on the rescheduled date.
Previously, the Federal High Court in Abuja had granted permission for INEC to initiate legal proceedings against Yunusa-Ari, who faces a six-count charge related to his involvement in the 2023 governorship election in the state.
After the supplementary governorship election on April 15th, the suspended REC prematurely declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Aishatu Ahmed Binani, as the winner while results were still being collated. This act generated widespread criticism, leading INEC to invalidate the declaration and impose an indefinite suspension on him.
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