Binani vs INEC: Yola High Court holds off proceedings in suit against Hudu Ari

On Wednesday, the case involving Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the suspended INEC Resident Electoral Officer, REC, was put on hold by the Adamawa State High Court.

The court said it had received an injunction from a federal High Court in Abuja to halt the trial, therefore it was waiting for further developments before proceeding.

Aishatu Ahmed Binani, the Adamawa APC governorship candidate in the last election, had petitioned the tribunal over the election that led to the court case involving Hudu and had obtained an order from a federal High Court in Abuja restraining the prosecution of Hudu at the Yola high court.

The prosecution’s attorney, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the State High Court on Wednesday that he was prevented from arraigning Hudu by an Abuja court.

Rotimi countered that while the crimes against Hudu that have been recommended are grave, it appears that Binani is attempting to evade punishment by seeking refuge in a court with concurrent jurisdiction.

Justice Benjamin Lawan, the presiding judge in Yola, stated that the state high court had received the order made by the Court in Abuja and that his court did not wish to act until the order expired or unless further developments in the coming days and weeks indicated otherwise.

According to the DAILY POST, on Tuesday the Adamawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, took the position of the prosecution counsel and accused Binani of trying to shield herself from indictment by petitioning the Federal High Court in Abuja to halt the prosecution of Hudu Yunusa-Ari, who had declared Binani the winner of the Adamawa governorship election before all of the votes had been counted. Hudu is now facing legal action as a result of this declaration.

Idris Yahaya, the PDP state secretary, told journalists in Yola that Binani was trying to thwart Hudu’s trial so that she wouldn’t have to face charges herself.

Refusing Binani’s demand to drop charges against a key conspirator in the failed civilian coup in Adamawa is the right thing to do.

According to the PDP scribe, “our belief is that Hudu will be prosecuted and Binani will be punished for her ignoble role,” and Binani’s acceptance speech after Hudu’s unlawful declaration of her winner proved that she conspired with Hudu to declare herself the winner of an unfinished election.