The Chairman of the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Electoral Committee, Barr Dan Nwanyanwu, has raised concerns about Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, a prominent contender for the position of National Chairman of IPAC, facing criminal charges at the Federal High Court, Lokoja, for alleged possession of arms.
According to Nwanyanwu, investigations unveiled that the State Security Services (SSS) brought charges against Dantalle in October 2021, accusing him of being in possession of dangerous weapons in Ayingba, Kogi State, in the same year.
The case is currently pending before the Federal High Court, Lokoja.
Despite these criminal charges, Dantalle is actively competing for the IPAC national chairmanship position against Engr Yabagi Yusuf Sani, the National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP).
Nwanyanwu, while emphasizing his role as an umpire for a fair election, stated, “As an umpire in the election, it is not my duty to determine who is qualified to contest and who is not qualified to contest.
I am an umpire in the forthcoming election of IPAC and my duty is to conduct the election and not to take a position on who is to contest and who is not to contest.”
A statement from the State Security Service in Kogi State, signed by Mr Olanrewaju Yahaya, Principal Legal Officer in charge of Discipline and Legal Services, outlined the charges against Dantalle, including the possession of a Barreta Pistol without a license and nine live rounds of ammunition without proper authorization.
When contacted, Dantalle acknowledged the ongoing court case but asserted his innocence, highlighting the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by the court.
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