The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has slammed a six-count charge on the suspended Adamawa state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Ari as his prosecution begins on Wednesday July 12.
TheHintsNews reports that Ari had in April illegally and wrongfully announced the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) Aishatu Dahiru Binani as the winner of the governorship election in the state.
TheHintsNews reports that Ari declared Binani as the winner of the supplementary poll held on April 15, 2023 even though the collation of results of the supplementary election had yet to be completed.
Ari declared Binani as the winner of the supplementary poll held on April 15, 2023 even though the collation of results of the supplementary election had yet to be completed.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye in a statement issued Thursday said the decision to commence his prosecution of Ari was taken at its regular weekly meeting held Thursday.
He said this followed the review of the case file from the Police which established a prima facie case against Ari.
Against this background, the Commission has filed a six-count charge against him at the Adamawa State High Court sitting in Yola, while the Court has fixed Wednesday 12th July 2023 for commencement of trial.
Okoye said: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) held its regular weekly meeting today, Thursday 6th July 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 4th July 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.”
The National Commissioner said 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 in which the offence is committed, or the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
He added that Section 145(2) of the Act also provides that a prosecution under the Act shall be undertaken by legal officers of the Commission, or any legal practitioner appointed by it.
Okoye added: “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 commencement of trial.”
It added that the Commission is working with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the diligent prosecution of other cases.