By Charles Ayodele
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has filed a six-count charge against its suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner, (REC) for Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, over alleged electoral offences committed during the April governorship election in the state.
The commission in a statement issued by Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, in Abuja on Thursday, said the case filed at the High Court sitting in Yola, has been fixed for July 12.
Okoye said that INEC held its regular weekly meeting on Thursday and discussed, among other issues, the progress with the prosecution of electoral offenders.
He recalled that the commission met with RECs on Tuesday and confirmed the receipt of case files from the Nigeria Police following the conclusion of investigations into alleged electoral offences during the 2023 general elections.
He said that one of the cases was the one involving the REC deployed to Adamawa State, in which the commission assured Nigerians of immediate action on the matter.
“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.
“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 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, July 12, for commencement of trial.”
He added that the commission was working with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the diligent prosecution of other cases.
