HUDU COLLAPSED, RUSHED TO ATBUTH BAUCHI- COUNSEL TELLS YOLA COURT

The suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Barr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, on Monday, failed to appear before Adamawa State High Court due to ill health. News Platform

The court presided by Hon. Justice Benjamin Manji Lawan, was told that the embattled REC failed to appear before it due to ill health as well as a letter sent to the court by the Attorney General of the Federation(AGF).

At the court's resumed sitting on Monday, Counsel to the prosecution, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), said that the prosecution was informed that the defendant had collapsed while preparing to appear in court for trial.

Rotimi Jacobs, said that they were informed that the defendant had collapsed on the 15th December, 2023 and was rushed to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) for medical attention. 

According to him, the defendant has been writing letters and filing motions upon motions in order to stall his trial, saying that the only alternative at the moment is for the court to issue warrant of arrest against him.

Addressing the court earlier, Counsel to the defendant, Dr. Suleiman Usman (SAN), told the court that he had made necessary arrangement to produce Hudu in court but failed woefully due ill health.

Dr. Suleiman told the court that Hudu had since returned to Nigeria  from Niger Republic, and that he is now in Bauchi State, saying that his health condition had rendered him unfit medically to appear in court.

He said that they had filed a medical report obtained from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) evidencing the ill health of his client.

Dr. Suleiman also tendered a letter written by the Attorney of Federation directing the court to temporary stay the prosecution of Hudu pending the determination of the appeal filed before the Court of Appeal Abuja Division by APC Governorship Candidate, Aishatu Binani.

The AGF's letter directed the court to suspend the prosecution pending the outcome of the appeal against Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, INEC and PDP which according to him, Hudu is a principal witness in the matter.

It could be recalled that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal on Monday, affirmed the electoral victory of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and dismissed Binani's appeal filed before.

However, the court presided by Justice Manji vehemently refused to honour the AGF's letter, and warned that the defendant is pushing the court to the hall.

The AGF had asked the court to suspend the prosecution pending the determination of the appeal against Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, INEC and PDP which according to him, Hudu is principal witness in the matter.

NEWS PLATFORM learnt that the AGF's letter to the court followed a letter written to him by Hudu through his counsel on the 15th December, 2023, informing him about his involvement in Binani's case as well as his ill health and pleaded with him to take over the proceedings.