Hudi Yunusa-Ari, the suspended Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, failed to appear in court today (Monday) at the State High Court in Yola.
As a result, Justice Benjamin Manji of the State High Court in Yola has directed INEC to bring him to court on November 23, 2023.
This comes after the police failed to provide Yunusa-Ari with the hearing notice.
According to the prosecution counsel for INEC Justice Rotimi Jacobs, the police visited his home several times to serve him with the hearing notice.
The defendant’s surety was likewise untraceable.
However, presiding judge Benjamin Manji questioned why the police who granted bail through a surety could not locate either the offender or the guarantor.
News About Nigeria affirms that as a result, he allowed the prosecution counsel’s plea for the defendant to appear in court in two weeks.
Speaking to the media shortly after the hearing, INEC lawyer Rotimi Jacobs told reporters that everything would be done to secure the defendant’s attendance on the rescheduled date.
The Federal High Court in Abuja authorised INEC to prosecute Yunusa-Ari, who is facing a six-count indictment in connection with his involvement in the Adamawa State’s governorship election in 2023.
The prosecutor is also requesting that an arrest warrant be issued for him.
Following the completion of the supplemental governorship election on April 15th, the suspended REC declared All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Aishatu Ahmed Binani as the winner midway through the results collation process.
This declaration was however contested by PDP whose governorship aspirant in the 2023 Adamawa governorship election had voiced out about irregularities and malpractice in the election process.
