The federal government has arraigned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun in the 2023 elections, Ladi Adebutu, over alleged vote buying.
Adebutu was arraigned at the Ogun state high court with nine others on Monday.
Yemi Sanusi, the chairperson of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun, had petitioned the inspector-general about the vote-buying allegations against the PDP candidate.
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 prosecuted on a four-count charge — criminal conspiracy, bribery, and two counts of undue influence, violating sections 121 and 127 of the Electoral Act 2022.
The charge added that voters get prepaid cards which had the inscription ‘Dame Caroline Oladuni Adebutu Memorial Endowment Scheme for Less Privileged’ to induce voters, and the cards were loaded with N10,000 each.
When the matter was called for hearing, 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.
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.
