Court dismisses rogue REC, Hudu Yunusa’s suit against IGP, pave way for junta leader’s arrest.

Adamawa State’s suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner, Hudu Yunusa-Ari, filed a case, which was dismissed by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The case sought protection against media trials, arrests, and harassment by security agents following his dubious declaration of Senator Aisha Binani Dahiru, the All-Progressives Congress governorship candidate, as the winner of the previous Adamawa governorship election.

Yunusa-Ari named the Inspector General of Police, Nigeria Police Force, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Director of the State Security Service (SSS), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the first through fifth respondents.

Hudu declared Binani the winner of the governorship race without due process, but the INEC leadership overturned the decision, eventually reinstating the incumbent governor, Umar Fintiri.

Hudu’s legal team, led by Jibrin Okutepa, stated that his client’s decision to reveal Binani was due to a tight security breach in Adamawa, and that the respondents have continued to make public statements against him despite the fact that he has yet to be convicted by a court.

While delivering the verdict, Justice James Omotosho remarked that the only issue in the case is whether any of the respondents violated Hudu’s basic rights.

The trial judge accepted that, while human rights are basic, there are exceptions.

Justice Omotosho stated that the applicant filed this suit to protect himself from prosecution for his involvement in the Adamawa governorship election.

As a result, the court rejected the complaint because it was without merit.