Suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, will be brought in to testify for Aishatu Dairu (Binani), the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Adamawa in the 2023 general election, our correspondent has gathered.
Recall that on Monday 10th July 2023, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja granted an ex-parte order to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from going ahead with the prosecution of the suspended REC, Ari.
The order came just two days ahead of the commencement of the REC’s trial following his controversial declaration of the candidate of the APC, Aishatu Dahiru, as the Governor of the State.
A statement by INEC on said the Nigeria Police investigated the matter and established a prima facie case against the REC on the basis of which the electoral body commenced his prosecution at the Adamawa State High Court in line with the provisions of Sec. 145 (1) and (2) of the Electoral Act 2022.
However, Binani approached a federal High Court and secured an order stopping INEC and the police from prosecuting the embattled REC.
Sources allege that the reason why Binani approached the Court in Abuja to stop the prosecution is because the REC was at her beck and call and worked with her to perpetrate his illegity.
Binani has filed a case at the Election Petition Tribunal challenging the conclusion and declaration of the election by INEC in favour of the candidate of the PDP and incumbent Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri.
The case at the Abuja High Court is intended to shield the REC from criminal prosecution to facilitate his appearance at the Tribunal as Binani’s star witness.
“In the desperation to win the election at all cost, it does not occur to Binani that she is hiding behind one finger by inviting the REC as her own witness thereby confirming that far from being neutral, he is a compromised official working for a particular candidate contrary to his oath of office,” the source said.
Investigation further revealed that although the police ceased his international passport, placed him on administrative bail and asked him to be reporting every week day at the Force HQ, he somehow managed to travel outside the country presumably in order to perform the hajj (pilgrimage) in Saudi Arabia.
