Hudu Yunusa-Ari, suspended REC who unduly announced Senator Binani winner of 2023 Adamawa governorship election. Photo: Radio Nigeria Archive
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop the prosecution of Adamawa Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari immediately.
The Presiding Judge Justice Donatus Okorowo’s order followed an ex-parte application filed by Mike Aondoaka, the counsel to Senator Aisahtu Binani Dahiru.
INEC Adamawa REC Hudu Yunusa-Ari had unduly announced Binani as the winner of April 12 Governorship election in Adamawa state.
Delivering Judgment, Justice Okorowo ordered the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop all prosecution against the embattled Adamawa REC.
Justice Okorowo held that since the matter is before a tribunal and the parties have submitted to the law, the parties should maintain status quo on the matter pending the conclusion of the suit.
Aondoaka had told the court to interpret Section 144 of the Electoral Act 2022 and an order seeking to maintain status quo in the matter pending the determination of the suit.
He argued that since the case is before a tribunal and it is time-bound there was no need for his star witness Hudu Yunusa Ari to be harassed and prevented from giving evidence before the tribunal, saying the process of the case will be affected if the harassment continued.
The lawyer urged the court to halt the harassment of Yunusa-Ari in the petition before a governorship tribunal challenging INEC’s declaration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and Governor of the State, Ahmadu Fintiri, as the winner.
Writing by Oluwaseyi Ajibade; Editing by Annabel Nwachukwu