By Zakariyya Aliyu Gwaram
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A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the suit filed by the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner of Adamawa state, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, which sought protection from media trial, arrest and harassment by security agencies following his controversial announcement of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Senator Aisha Binani Dahiru, as winner of the last Adamawa governorship poll.
In the suit,Yunusa-Ari sued the Inspector General of Police, Nigeria Police Force, the Attorney-General of Federation and Minister of Justice, the Director of the State Security Service (SSS) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 5th respondents respectively.
Hudu had announced Binani winner of the governorship poll against the due process, but the declaration was annulled by the INEC leadership, which eventually returned the incumbent governor, Umar Fintiri
Hudu’s legal team led by Jibrin Okutepa said his client’s decision to announce Binani was due to a tight security breach in Adamawa, contending that since the incident, the respondents kept issuing press statements against him when he had not been convicted by a law court.
Justice James Omotosho, while delivering Judgement on, held that the only issue to determine in the case is whether the fundamental rights of Hudu were breached by any of the respondents.
Responding to the court decision, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ahmadu Umaru on Public matters and Lawyer,Barrister Sunday Joshua Wugira said the judgement is classically justification of democratic norms and practices.
Wugira appealed to the public to take note of stakeholders’ actions and always rely on the judiciary as it’s for the good of the common man.
Justice Omotosho noted that the applicant filed this suit to hide himself from prosecution for the role he played in the Adamawa guber poll.
The court, therefore, dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.
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