PDP governorship candidate Adebutu, nine others arraigned for vote buying
The Federal Government has arraigned the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 governorship election in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, and nine others before the State High Court in Abeokuta for alleged vote buying.
The federal government had filed charges against Adebutu and the other defendants at the court.
Adebutu was finally charged in absentia on Monday as he has been out of the country since shortly after the 18 March poll.
He did not honour the police invitation of allegations of electoral malpractices and money laundering over which he has been arraigned.
The allegations were raised in a petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state against Adebutu and his party, the PDP. to the Inspector General of Police on the day of the 18 March election.
The APC petition, written by its state chairman, Yemi Sanusi, to the Inspector-General of Police, was investigated by the State Criminal Investigations Department, Eleweran in Abeokuta, after which the Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice, filed the criminal charges against Adebutu and the other defendants.
Justice Abiodun Akinyemi had earlier adjourned the matter till 10 July owing to the inability of the court’s process servers to serve Adebutu and his co-defendants with the information sheet.
However, when the matter was called on Monday, Adebutu remained at large while the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 10th defendants – Ogunbona Hammed, Tiamiyi Waleed, Egunsola Owolabi, Sanni Adejoke and Malik respectively were present.
They pleaded not guilty to all four counts and their counsel, Muyiwa Obanewa, subsequently urged the court to grant them bail.
The prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, did not oppose the granting of bail to the defendants.
Justice Akinyemi subsequently admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100,000 and one surety each.
The court then adjourned the case till 26 September for definite hearing.
According to the charge sheet of the case with no AB/10C/2003 dated June 2, Adebutu and the other defendants face a four-count charge.
One count of criminal conspiracy contrary to Section 121 of the Electoral Act, 2022, bribery contrary to Section 121 of the Electoral Act, 2022, and two counts of undue influence contrary to section 127 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
According to the particulars of the offence, Adebutu and the co-accused “on or about 18th of March at Ibara, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to corruptly give gifts in form of verve prepaid cards which had inscribed on them ‘Dame Caroline Oladuni Adebutu Memorial Endorsement Scheme for Less Privileged’ in order to induce voters to endeavour the return of PDP candidates during the gubernatorial and State Assembly elections in Ogun State.”
