AN Abuja court has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission – INEC, Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation – AGF, to halt the prosecution of the suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner – REC, Hudu Yunusa Ari.
The Federal High Court in Abuja asked that Ari’s prosecution be suspended pending the hearing and determination of a motion filed by Senator Aishatu Dahiru Binani.
Justice Donatus Okorowo, who gave the order following an ex-parte application brought by Michael Aondoaka (SAN), the counsel to Senator Binani held that since the matter is before a tribunal and the parties have submitted to the law, “parties should maintain status quo on the matter pending the conclusion of the suit”.
Counsel to the applicant brought a motion seeking to interpret section 144 of the Electoral Act 2022 and a preservative order seeking for maintenance of status quo in the matter pending the determination of the suit.
The Senior lawyer, in his application, drew the attention of the court to the fact that the matter is before a tribunal and it is time-bound, whereas the star witness to his client, Hudu Yunusa Ari is being harassed and prevented from giving evidence before the tribunal which if continued would jeopardize the case of his client at the tribunal.
Aondoaka therefore, urged the court to halt the harassment of the star witness in the petition before a governorship election petition tribunal challenging INEC’s declaration of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and governor of the state, Ahmadu Fintiri as winner on Sunday, April 16, 2023.
