The Federal Government on Monday arraigned in absentia, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 governorship election in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu before a State High court sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Adebutu and nine others were arraigned for vote buying.
Adebutu, some months ago left the country for abroad, claiming medical check up as reason for the trip but the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state alleged that he fled the country to avoid appearing in court in respect of vote buying and money laundering allegations brought against him by the Federal Government.
The APC through its Ogun State Chairman, Chief Yemi Sanusi, had earlier written the Inspector General of Police over the vote buying allegation, which was investigated by the State Criminal Investigations Department Eleweran, Abeokuta and upon conclusion of the investigations, the Government through the Director of Public Prosecutions, Federal Ministry of Justice filed criminal charges against Ladi and his co-defendants at the High Court sitting.
When the case came up before Hon. Justice Abiodun Akinyemi sitting in court 4, it was adjourned July 10, 2023 when the court process could not be served on Ladi Adebutu and his co-defendants due inaccessibility.
However, as at the time the matter was called on Monday, Ladi Adebutu remained at large while the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 10th Defendants in persons of Ogunbona Hammed, Tiamiyi Waleed, Egunsola Owolabi, Sanni Adejoke and Malik respectively were present.
They pleaded not guilty to all the four – count – charge and their counsel Muyiwa Obanewa subsequently prayed the court to grant them bail.
The prosecuting counsel Rotimi Jacobs while noting that Ladi Adebutu was still not around, said he was not opposed to bail application for the defendants.
Hon. Justice Akinyemi subsequently admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100,000 and one surety each who shall be either bondsmen or relatives of the defendants with evidence of payment of tax.
The court adjourned the case till 26th of September 2023 for definite hearing.
According to the charge sheet of the case with no AB/10C/2003 filed at the high court and dated June 2, 2023, Adebutu, along with Messers Ogunbona Hammed, Tiamiyu Waliu, Egunsola Owolabi, Sanni Adegoke, Hon. Dare Lukman Ogunleye, Dayo Fasina, Wasiu Enilolobo and Malik Badmus, were being prosecuted on a four-count charge:
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.
The particulars of the offence against Adebutu and the co-accused reads in part: “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.”
Adebutu was further accused of providing 200,000 prepaid verve cards loaded with N10,000 each and inscribed with the same name “for the purpose of corruptly influencing voters to vote for PDP candidates” during the said elections.
