The suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Hudu Yunusa Ari, has reported himself to the police.
Ari, a lawyer, reported himself to the police in Abuja after granting an interview to the Hausa Service of the BBC.
In the interview, the REC, who controversially declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the governorship election in Adamawa State, Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, aka Binani, winner, said: “I will surely turn myself in to the police.
“Before, there was no summon from the police, but now there is one.
“I will soon come out from hiding.”
According to available information, the police invited Ari for interrogation on May 5.
But he reported himself on May 2, driven to keep the appointment by a serving Senator.
In the letter of invitation dated April 27, 2023, Ari was told to report for the interview on May 5 at 10am.
The letter, signed by the Head of the National Central Bureau and Head of Election Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Team, Garba Baba Umar, an Assistant Inspector General of Police, the lawyer was told to report on arrival to Jolugbo Moses, a Chief Superintendent of Police.
Confirming the development, the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said Ari was in the custody of the police.
Adejobi, however, said Ari was arrested.
He said in a statement on Tuesday: “The Nigeria Police Force hereby confirms the arrest of Barr. Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), who was alleged to have announced the candidate of the All Progressives Congress winner of the gubernatorial elections during the recently concluded supplementary elections following calls for his arrest and investigation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the basis of alleged impropriety in the course of supplementary gubernatorial polls in the State.
“Barrister Ari, who was arrested by the Police Election Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Team in Abuja on Tuesday 2nd May, 2023, is currently in Police custody and is being grilled to ascertain the motives and motivations behind his alleged improper actions during the supplementary elections in Adamawa State. In addition, other officials and individuals culpable in the saga are being interrogated by the team.
“The Inspector-General of Police has given clear assurance that every individual involved/indicted in the matter will be apprehended and investigated in line with the provisions of the law for possible prosecution. The Inspector-General of Police has assured of the commitment of the Force to ensuring that justice is served in this case and that all guilty parties are brought to justice.”