The Independent National Electoral Commission has disclosed that the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, is no longer on its payroll.
Henzodaily understands that this comes amid growing concerns over the stalled prosecution of Yunusa-Ari, who faces charges related to electoral misconduct.
Yunusa-Ari was suspended in April 2023 after he illegally declared the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Aishatu Binani, as the winner of the Adamawa State governorship election while collation was still ongoing.
The declaration was made despite the incumbent, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party, leading in the vote count.
Speaking to Saturday PUNCH, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, clarified that Yunusa-Ari ceased to receive any remuneration from the commission following his suspension.
“Yunusa-Ari has not been on the payroll of the Commission since August 2023 when he was charged to court. No remuneration has been paid to him since then,” Oyekanmi said.
The former REC was arraigned at the State High Court in Yola following a directive from then-President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the matter.
Prosecution Efforts Frustrated
The lawyer handling the case for INEC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), accused the Nigeria Police Force of frustrating prosecution efforts.
He revealed that despite court orders and a bench warrant for Yunusa-Ari’s arrest, the police have failed to present him in court.
“The police have refused to act on the judge’s orders to produce the suspect. All efforts to bring him to court have been ignored. This has left everyone — the judge, the court, INEC, and the prosecution — frustrated,” Jacobs lamented.
Jacobs emphasized that INEC, particularly its chairman, had made significant efforts to ensure the prosecution of Yunusa-Ari. However, the lack of cooperation from the police has derailed the process.
“I have seen what INEC did, particularly the chairman, to ensure that Ari is prosecuted, but all efforts were frustrated by the police,” he added.