…grill him over Binani’s illegal declaration as gov
Police have arrested the suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu-Yunusa Ari, and other suspects.
Consequently, Ari and other suspects are currently being interrogated at the Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, over alleged impropriety in the April 15 supplementary governorship election in the state.
Already, Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has confirmed the development.
Recall that the suspended Adamawa REC had illegally declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Aisha Dahiru, popularly known as Binani, as the winner of the Adamawa State governorship election, when collation of results had yet to be completed.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had immediately proclaimed Yunusa-Ari’s declaration as null and void, while it summoned him to its Abuja headquarters. He, however, failed to honour the summon.
INEC late wrote to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, requesting the Force to investigate the matter, and if the suspended REC is found culpable over alleged electoral infractions, he should be prosecuted.
After receiving the letter, the IGP set up an investigative team to work in collaboration with INEC on the matter. But the commission declared that the suspended Adamawa REC was on the run.
President Muhammadu Buhari, last month, approved the Adamawa REC’s suspension pending the conclusion of police investigation.
But the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Tuesday, confirmed the arrest of the fleeing REC and other suspects.
Adejobi said, “The Nigeria Police Force hereby confirms the arrest of Barrister Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the Adamawa State REC, who was alleged to have announced the candidate of the All Progressives Congress winner of the gubernatorial elections during the recently concluded supplementary elections following calls for his arrest and investigation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the basis of alleged impropriety in the course of supplementary gubernatorial polls in the State.
“Barrister Yunusa-Ari, who was arrested by the Police Election Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Team in Abuja on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, is currently in police custody and is being grilled to ascertain the motives and motivations behind his alleged improper actions during the supplementary elections in Adamawa State.
“In addition, other officials and individuals culpable in the saga are being interrogated by the team.
“The Inspector-General of Police has given clear assurance that every individual involved/indicted in the matter will be apprehended and investigated in line with the provisions of the law for possible prosecution. The IG has assured of the commitment of the Force to ensure that justice is served in this case and that all guilty parties are brought to justice.”