Hudu Yunusa Ari, the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner ,REC, of Adamawa State for the Independent National Electoral Commission ,INEC, has reportedly escaped to Niger Republic, evading arraignment for the second time.
Ari, who had earlier avoided arraignment on November 6, 2023, is facing trial for his alleged involvement in inappropriate conduct during the Adamawa gubernatorial election.
The Investigating Police Officer, CSP Moses Jolugbo, informed the Adamawa State High Court of Justice that Yunusa Ari has gone into hiding, complicating the legal proceedings. The trial judge, Justice Benjamin Manji, had directed the Nigerian police to produce the suspended REC on or before the adjourned date of November 23.
During the court proceedings, the defendant’s counsel, Dr. Suleiman Usman, disclosed that Yunusa Ari was in Niger Republic with his other wife. He assured the court that he would produce his client for arraignment and requested an adjournment to facilitate this.
The prosecution counsels, O. A. Atolabi and F. T. Ekyaan, brought an application for the court to issue a warrant of arrest against Hudu Yunusa Ari, as he was untraceable. However, Justice Manji deemed a warrant unnecessary since the defendant’s counsel had committed to producing him in court.
The judge adjourned the matter to December 6 for arraignment. The suspended REC, Hudu Yunusa Ari, was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari for prematurely declaring the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Senator Aishatu Binani, as the winner of the Adamawa gubernatorial election while the process was still ongoing.
The continued evasion of trial raises questions about the enforcement of legal proceedings in this case.
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