The suspended Adamawa state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari, has evaded arraignment for the fourth time.
Yunusa-Ari who was due to appear before the Adamawa State High Court on Monday was reported to have collapsed and was rushed to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi last Friday.
His counsel, Suleiman Usman (SAN) informed the court on Monday that his client was unable to appear and take his plea due to ill-health.
Usman told the court that his client, Yunusa-Ari had since returned to Nigeria from Niger Republic, and that he was in Bauchi State, saying that his health condition had rendered him unfit to appear in court.
He said that they had filed a medical report obtained from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital evidencing the ill health of his client.
He also tendered a letter written by the Attorney-General of Federation directing the court to temporary stay the prosecution of Yunusa-Ari pending the determination of the appeal filed before the Court of Appeal Abuja Division by the APC Governorship Candidate, Aishatu Binani.
The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), confirmed that he was informed that the defendant had collapsed while preparing to appear in court for trial.
According to him, the defendant has been writing letters and filing motions upon motions in order to stall his trial. He therefore stressed that the only alternative at the moment was for the court to issue warrant of arrest against him.
However, the court presided by Justice Manji vehemently refused to honour the AGF’s letter, and warned that the defendant was pushing the court to the wall.
Recall that the Court of Appeal on Monday, affirmed the electoral victory of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and dismissed Binani’s appeal filed before it.