Femi Falana (SAN), a human rights attorney, has demanded an inquiry into the alleged 2 billion naira inducement that followed the just ended governorship race in Adamawa.
According to news reports, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the state’s resident electoral commissioner (REC), announced Aisha Dalhiru Binani, the APC’s candidate for governor of Adamawa, as the winner on Sunday while results were still being tallied.
Following the development, there were allegations that Yunusa-Ari is an APC supporter and received a N2 billion bribe to make the contentious declaration.
UPDATE: INEC Suspends Adamawa REC, Yunusa-Ari
Senator Binani, however, denied paying Yunusa-Ari N2 billion in exchange for a favorable proclamation of her as the next governor, calling the accusation absurd and false.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, Falana said the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would look into the bribery claim.
He argued that Senator Binani’s denial was insufficient and emphasized the need for the anti-graft agencies to look into the claim in order to learn the truth and make sure that anyone who broke the law would be held accountable.
Falana argued that Yunusa-Ari and those engaged in declaring Binani the winner should be looked into and prosecuted, and Binani’s celebratory speech supported her involvement in the chaos.
Watch Moment Adamawa REC Announced Binani As Winner Of Guber Elections
He said: “There are allegations that the sum of 2billion naira is fetching hands, so it is not enough for Binani to deny, there must be an investigation.
“Was there inducement? That has to be investigated. The officers who were at the high table with Mr Yunusa Ari, the commissioner of Police, the Director of the State Security Service, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
“All those involved in the criminality that occurred, they all have to be tried under the law. It is not enough for the IGP to simply redeploy the commissioner of police involved or for the director of state security to be withdrawn from the state.
“This is not the first time that it has happened, there have been false declarations of results before now.
“The EFCC and the ICPC will have to be brought in to investigate the allegations of inducement of the sum of 2 billion naira. It is also in the interest of the APC candidate to ensure this matter is fully investigated.
UPDATE: Binani Asks Court To Halt Adamawa Governorship Election
“The IGP would have to speed up the investigation. By now, we expect him (Adamawa REC) to have been arrested and if he cannot be found, they have to get a court order to declare him wanted.
“All the security officers involved will have to be investigated and prosecuted. INEC has done the right thing by suspending him so that he does not further taint the democratic process.”
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