An Abuja High Court has halted the prosecution of the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari.
According to Channels, the verdict was given by the presiding judge, Justice Donatus Okorowo, who gave the order following an ex-parte application brought by Mike Aondoaka, the counsel to Dahiru.
The court ruled that the status quo should be preserved awaiting the outcome of the litigation because the subject is currently before a tribunal and the parties have submitted to the law.
Lawyers for the applicant filed two motions with the court at the suit’s outset: one to interpret Section 144 of the Electoral Act 2022, and the other to keep things as they were before the suit was filed.
In his application, the senior attorney drew the court’s attention to the fact that Hudu Yunusa Ari, who is his star witness, is being harassed and is being prevented from testifying before the tribunal, which, if it continues, would have an impact on the process.
The senior attorney also noted that the matter is before a tribunal and that it is time-bound.
In the case before a governorship tribunal contesting INEC’s proclamation of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate and governor of the state, Ahmadu Fintiri, as the victor, the attorney pleaded with the court to stop harassing Yunusa-Ari.
The attorney informed the court that since the petitioner had already been declared by INEC, the declaration could only be legitimately and lawfully overturned if necessary by a tribunal or court with appropriate jurisdiction.
Senator Dahiru had already filed a complaint with a sister court headed over by Justice Inyang Ekwo. However, the matter was dropped after the applicants submitted a notice of discontinuance.
