The troubled Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, who also practices law, is the target of a petition being prepared by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) that will subject him to disciplinary proceedings.
The REC is being looked into for his part in the contentious announcement of Aishatu Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the victor of the April 15 supplemental governorship election. He managed to avoid capture until May 2, when he was finally apprehended.
Monday Ubani, the chairman of the NBA’s Section of Public Interest and Development (SPIDEL), stated on Wednesday’s episode of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily that the NBA intends to file a petition against him as a member of the Bar.
Suspended Adamawa REC, Yunusa-Ari Opens Up On Receiving N2 Billion Bribe To Declare Binani
“This is one of the suggestions that were made; that a body like NBA should not allow such a man who brought what I would consider a national disgrace to NBA to go scot-free,” he said.
He claims that the NBA disciplinary committee has to receive a report before it can look into what he did because the REC dispatched on a national assignment “did not represent the body well enough.”
Ubani pointed out that further investigation is necessary to determine the cause of the irregularities.
“If he is innocent, let us be told that he is innocent. If he is not innocent, then the next thing that should follow is prosecution. This is because it sends the right signal that we are a nation that wants to protect our integrity,” he said.
According to the human rights attorney, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lacks the authority required by national law to conduct criminal investigations.
UPDATE: Police, DSS, INEC Invite Suspended Adamawa REC, Yunusa-Ari
He claims that in situations like this, the police serve as the principal prosecutor.
“It is the Nigerian Police that does investigation in the country, so if a matter is alleged to fall into the realm of crime, it is the Nigerian Police that carries out the responsibility.
“Even if INEC would prosecute, there must be an investigation first by a body authorised to do that,” he said.
The SPIDEL chairman also stated that INEC’s body language will stop politicians and election workers from abusing their positions.
He claimed that politicians would act timidly and in a desperate manner if the integrity and strictness of INEC were maintained.
UPDATE: We Don’t Know Whereabouts Of Suspended Adamawa REC – INEC
“The body language of the electoral umpire (INEC) has a role to play, it goes a long way to the integrity of the system. The politicians are waiting to see the reaction of INEC in the electoral process.
“When the umpire is having issues and the politicians see the body language, they see that there are still loopholes and room for them to manipulate,” he said.
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