Police invite Ari, others, begin probe of illegal acts
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Police have begun investigation of illegal acts in the Adamawa supplementary governorship election during which Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Hudu Yunusa-Ari declared Aisha Dahiru Binani of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner while the results were still being collated.
Yunusa-Ari on April 16 announced Binani as the winner of the supplementary election while the results were still being collated, whereas he did not have the legal authority to declare the winner.
INEC national headquarters has since announced his suspension and recommended him to the police for prosecution.
The INEC has also finished the collation and declared Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the ballot.
A police source told Tribune Online the probe is based on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhar who approved the suspension of Yunusu-Ari from office pending the completion of investigation.
“Upon the receipt of a memo on the subject matter from the Secretary to the Government of f the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, the IGP [Inspector General of Police], Usman Alkali Baba, quickly went into action and directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Olukayode Adeolu, DIG Force Criminal Investigations Department, to take over the presidential directive personally and immediately.
“That is what is happening now,” the source confirmed.
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“Mind you, the investigation is also being extended to the Director-General of the Department of State Services [DSS], and the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps [NSCDC], to find out the roles of their personnel in aiding and abetting the conduct/actions of the suspended REC,” the source added.
“Also the embattled REC is being summoned to the FCID to tell his own side of the story as the principal suspect. He is to come along with some others. The assignment is being done with dispatch and the DIG is being expected to update the IGP constantly on the progress of investigation.
“The Commissioner of Police [CP] on election duty in Adamawa State, [Commissioner of Police] Mohammed Barde, at the time of the unfortunate incident has been on the ground too, all hands are on deck to unravel the mystery surrounding the Adamawa drama.”
Baba has replaced Barde with Gombe CP Etim Equa.