The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has stated that it is preparing a petition to pursue disciplinary action against Adamawa State’s beleaguered Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari, who is also a lawyer.
The REC is being investigated for his role in the disputed announcement of Aishatu Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the April 15 supplemental governorship poll.
Monday Ubani, the NBA’s Chairman of the Section of Public Interest and Development (SPIDEL), stated on Wednesday’s program that the NBA intends to file a petition against him as a member of the Bar.
“This is one of the suggestions that were made; that a body like NBA should not allow such a man who brought what I would consider a national disgrace to NBA to go scot-free,” he said.
According to him, in order to investigate what he did, the NBA disciplinary committee must obtain a report because the REC who was sent on a national assignment “did not represent the body well enough.”
Ubani noted that more research is needed to determine the reason of the abnormalities.
“If he is innocent, let us be told that he is innocent. If he is not innocent, then the next thing that should follow is prosecution. This is because it sends the right signal that we are a nation that wants to protect our integrity,” he said.
According to the human rights lawyer, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) does not have the authority to investigate criminality under the country’s legal structure.
Ubani said that the police are the primary prosecutor in such cases.
“It is the Nigerian Police that does investigation in the country, so if a matter is alleged to fall into the realm of crime, it is the Nigerian Police that carries out the responsibility.
“Even if INEC would prosecute, there must be an investigation first by a body authorised to do that,” he said.
The SPIDEL chairman also stated that INEC’s body language will reduce political and electoral wrongdoing.
He stated that if INEC’s integrity and strictness are maintained, politicians will be fearful and desperate.
“The body language of the electoral umpire (INEC) has a role to play, it goes a long way to the integrity of the system. The politicians are waiting to see the reaction of INEC in the electoral process.
“When the umpire is having issues and the politicians see the body language, they see that there are still loopholes and room for them to manipulate,” he said.
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