The Federal High Court Abuja has declined to extend its July 10 interim order stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Inspector General of Police, and the Attorney General of the Federation from prosecuting the suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Hudu Yunusa- Ari pending the hearing and determination of a motion filed by Senator Aishatu Dahiru.
INEC is seeking the prosecution of the suspended REC for declaring the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Dahiru also known as Binani, as winner of the Adamawa State governorship election on April 15, 2023.
The court had ordered parties in the motion filed by Binani to maintain status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The Court also asked the defendants to appear before it to show cause while they should not be permanently restrained from prosecuting the suspended Adamawa state REC.
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Other defendant in the suit is the Inspecror General Of Police
At the resumed hearing, counsel for INEC, Rotimi Jacobs told the court that the applicant had not served the defendants with the July 10 order of the court.
Jacobs in a counter affidavit to the motion, also challenged the competence and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter.
He told the court that the life span of the interim order elapsed on July 18, but counsel for Binani, Michael Aondoaka, argued that the interim order has not elapsed as the defendants have not shown cause as directed by the court.
Justice Danotus Okorowo however adjourned till Monday, July 24 for hearing in the originating summons served on the defendants.
Editor: Ena Agbanoma
