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The Federal Government, yesterday, arraigned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 governorship election in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, and nine others before an Ogun State High court, sitting in Abeokuta for vote-buying.
Adebutu, who was charged in absentia has been on the run from law.
The PDP governorship candidate, some months ago, sneaked out of the country, following allegations of electoral malpractices and money laundering preferred against him and his party by the Federal Government.
All progressives Congress (APC), through its Ogun State Chairman, Yemi Sanusi, had written a petition to the inspector general of police over the vote-buying allegation, which was investigated by the State Criminal Investigations Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta.
Upon conclusion of investigations, the Federal Government, through the director of public prosecutions, Federal Ministry of Justice, filed criminal charges against Adebutu and his co-defendants at the High Court.
When the case came up before Abiodun Akinyemi, sitting in Court 4, it was adjourned till yesterday due to the inability of the court’s process servers to serve Adebutu and his co-defendants with the information sheet.
However, as at the time the matter was called yesterday, 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 counts and their counse, Muyiwa Obanewa, subsequently urged the court to grant bail to the defendants.
The prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, while noting that Adebutu is still on the run, said he was not opposed to the granting of bail to the defendants.
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 September 26, 2023 for definite hearing.
