FG arraigns PDP’s Adebutu for alleged vote buying in Ogun

FG arraigns PDP’s Adebutu for alleged vote buying in Ogun

 The federal government, on Monday, arraigned Ladi Adebutu,
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun in the 2023
elections, over alleged vote buying.

 

Adebutu was arraigned at the Ogun state high court alongside
nine others.

 

Yemi Sanusi, chairperson of the All Progressives Congress
(APC) in Ogun, had petitioned the inspector-general, raising vote buying
allegations against Adebutu.

 

The state criminal investigations department (SCID) of the
police in Abeokuta, investigated the matter.

 

Thereafter, the office of public prosecutions at the federal
ministry of justice, filed criminal charges against Adebutu and his
co-defendants at the high court.

 

In the suit marked AB/10C/2003, Adebutu and the other
defendants are being prosecuted on a four-count charge — criminal conspiracy,
bribery, and two counts of undue influence which violates sections 121 and 127
of the Electoral Act 2022.

 

“On or about 18th of March at Ibara, within the jurisdiction
of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to corruptly give gifts
in the form of verve prepaid cards which had inscribed on them ‘Dame Caroline
Oladuni Adebutu Memorial Endowment Scheme for Less Privileged’ to induce voters
to endeavour the return of PDP candidates during the gubernatorial and state
assembly elections in Ogun state,” the charge against Adebutu and the
co-accused reads.

 

The charge added that the prepaid cards were loaded with
N10,000 each.

 

When the matter was called for hearing on Monday, Adebutu
was not available in court, but Abiodun Akinyemi, the judge, proceeded with the
hearing.

 

The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 10th defendants — Ogunbona
Hammed, Tiamiyi Waleed, Egunsola Owolabi, Sanni Adejoke and Malik were,
however, present and pleaded not guilty to all four counts.

 

Muyiwa Obanewa, their counsel, subsequently asked the court
to grant them bail.

 

Rotimi Jacobs, the prosecuting counsel, said Adebutu is at
large, but did not oppose the bail plea of the defendants.

 

The defendants were admitted to bail in the sum of N100,000
and one surety each, who shall be either bondsmen or relatives with evidence of
tax payment.

 

The judge adjourned the case till September 26 for hearing.

Source: FG arraigns PDP’s Adebutu for alleged vote buying in Ogun

 - NigerianEye
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