The suspended Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Hudi Yunusa-Ari, did not appear at the Adamawa State High Court on Monday, where he was scheduled to be arraigned.
Justice Benjamin Manji of the State High Court issued an order for INEC to ensure Yunusa-Ari’s presence in court during the next sitting, which is scheduled for November 23, 2023.
The reason for his absence was attributed to the police’s failure to serve him the hearing notice. The prosecution counsel representing INEC, Justice Rotimi Jacobs, explained that the police had made multiple attempts to serve Yunusa-Ari the notice by visiting his residence, but they could not locate him.
Expressing concern over the inability of the police to locate the defendant or his surety, the presiding judge, Benjamin Manji, granted the prosecution counsel’s request for a two-week extension to allow the defendant to appear before the court.
The Federal High Court in Abuja had previously granted INEC permission to prosecute Yunusa-Ari, who is facing a six-count charge related to his role in the 2023 governorship election in Adamawa State.