The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the trial of the detained Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barr Yunusa Ari will start on Wednesday, July 14.
According to INEC, 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 12th July 2023 for commencement of trial.
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye made the disclosure at INEC regular weekly meeting on Thursday, in Abuja.
The meeting discussed, among other issues, the progress with the prosecution of electoral offenders.
The Commission had assured of immediate action on the matter.
INEC said it has reviewed the case file from the Police which established a prima facie case against Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari.
It would be recalled that at the meeting with the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Tuesday, the national chairman of the Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu confirmed the receipt of case files from the Nigeria Police following the conclusion of investigation into alleged electoral offences during the 2023 General Election, including the one involving the REC deployed to Adamawa State, Barr. Ari.
Okoye said,
“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.
“Meanwhile, the Commission is working with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the diligent prosecution of other cases”.
