Suspended Adamawa REC trial commences July 12

Forum 9 months ago

Suspended Adamawa REC trial commences July 12

The Independent National Electoral Commission has charged the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State, Hudu Ari, to court.

Ari, during the 2023 governorship election in Adamawa State, had illegally declared Aishatu Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress, the winner of the Adamawa State governorship election, prompting the police to arrest Ari.

A statement on Thursday by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of the commission, Festus Okoye, said it had reviewed the case file sent to the commission by the police and had filed a six-count against Ari.

He added that the case would be heard at the Adamawa State High Court on July 12, 2023.

The statement read in part, “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 two days ago on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, the commission confirmed the receipt of case files from the Nigeria Police following the conclusion of the investigation into alleged electoral offences during the 2023 general elections, including the one involving the Resident Electoral Commissioner deployed to Adamawa State, Hudu Ari.

“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 Ari, the commission has filed a six-count against him (Ari) at the Adamawa State High Court in Yola. Consequently, the court has fixed Wednesday, July 12, 2023 for commencement of trial.”

Okoye, however, said the commission was working with the Nigerian Bar Association for the diligent prosecution of other cases.