Ogun PDP Governorship Candidate, Adebutu Arraigned In Court

The Ogun State Police Command on Tuesday, arraigned the 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Oladipupo Adebutu, alongside five others before Justice Abiodun Akinyemi of the state High Court, over a seven-count charge bordering on vote buying and other offences in a case number AB/10c/2023 (FRN Vs Adebutu & Ors)

The defendant was accused of inducement during the March 18 poll by security agents alongside other members of his party.

200,000 preloaded ATM verve cards with N10,000 were alleged to have been ordered through Adebutu’s bank.

The ATM cards were said to have been distributed on the day of the election across the state with the alleged intention of inducing voters.

Adebutu and six other people were later charged to court by the police, but he was said to have travelled out of the country for medical treatment and returned in December 2023.

The Governorship candidate while appearing physically for the first time before the court, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him

The prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs SAN, earlier in his submission orally withdrew the prior information supplied, and substituted the same with amended information, without any objection from the lead counsel for the defendants, Gordy Uche SAN.

The defendant’s counsel pleaded with the court to allow the Adebutu to continue to enjoy bail on earlier terms.

He then prayed the court to grant the first defendant, Adebutu, bail on self-recognition, saying he came to the court of his own volition.

The prayer was however opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs SAN, explaining that while he has no objection to the prayer for bail, he disagreed with the self-recognition clause.

The presiding judge, Justice Abiodun Akinyemi, therefore, granted the first defendant, Adebutu bail in the sum of N1m with a surety in like sum who may be a family member or bondsman.

The case has been adjourned till Wednesday, February 7, 2024, for hearing.