The Federal Government has arraigned the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, and nine others before the State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital, for vote-buying.

Adebutu, who was charged in absentia, was arraigned on Monday, July 10, 2023.

It would be recalled that Adebutu left the country some months ago, following allegations of electoral malpractices and money laundering preferred against him and his party by the Federal Government.

The Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), through its chairman, Yemi Sanusi, had written a petition to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) over the vote-buying allegation, which was investigated by the State Criminal Investigations Department Eleweran, Abeokuta.

Upon the 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.

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However, when the matter was called on Monday, the PDP governorship candidate was absent in the court 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 four counts, while their counsel, Muyiwa Obanewa, urged the court to grant bail to the defendants.

The prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, while noting that Ladi is still on the run, said he was not opposed to the granting of bail to the defendants.

The presiding judge, Justice Abiodun Akinyemi, subsequently admitted the defendants 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.

Justice Akinyemi, therefore, adjourned the case till September 26, 2023, for hearing.

The Star