An Adamawa State High Court, Yola, has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest and produce the former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the state, Mr. Hudu Yunusa Ari, before the court or risk contempt charges.
The threat of the inspector general of police being accused of contempt, stems from the failure of the police to heed the court’s directive to arrest the fleeing ex-resident electoral commissioner, who has absconded from facing trial.
Justice Benjamin Manji granted the order after considering the ex parte application moved by prosecution counsel L.D. Nzadon, urging the court to grant a warrant for Ari’s arrest, emphasizing the necessity of the former electoral official’s presence to stand trial for the charges preferred against him.
The ex parte application was supported by an affidavit deposed by the Director of Public Prosecution in the Adamawa State Ministry of Justice, Ishaq Jada, detailing the circumstances leading to the court’s intervention.
The affidavit, supported by a 17-paragraph counter-affidavit and an exhibit marked “A” highlighted Ari’s alleged failure to appear before the court despite being summoned severally.
Convinced of the merit of the application and the need for a favourable exercise of judicial discretion, the judge granted the prayers as requested, by issuing a warrant of arrest against Ari.
Also, Egbetokun was directed to effect the arrest of the former state resident electoral commissioner, and produce him unfailingly before the court on March 27, 2025.
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Justice Manji further ordered that the inspector general of police be served Form 48 (notice of consequence of disobedience of court order) via substituted means, and that failure to obey the court’s directives will not only result in contempt, but lead to imprisonment.
The issuance of the notice of consequences of disobedience of the court order, the judge ruled is under Order IX, Rule 13 of the Sheriffs and Civil Process Act
The legal proceedings against Mr. Ari in case number HC/ADSY/9C/2024, began following a complaint lodged by the state government on February 20, 2024, following allegations surrounding his conduct during the 2023 governorship election in Adamawa State.
However, the former resident electoral commissioner had appeared in court only once since his trial commenced, and has repeatedly failed to heed summons from the court to appear before it.
