Ladi Adebutu, the candidate for governorship from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, has appeared in court in Abeokuta.
He is facing charges related to vote-buying during the governorship exercise on March 18. The case, with number AB/10c/2023 (FRN Vs Adebutu & Ors), is being heard by Justice Abiodun Akinremi.
Adebutu has pleaded not guilty to the seven charges, which include vote-buying and other offenses. Security agents have accused him and other party members of criminal inducement during the election.
Specifically, Adebutu is alleged to have ordered 200,000 preloaded ATM verve cards with N10,000 each, which were distributed on election day with the intention of inducing voters in the state.
The police later charged him and the other six suspects in court.
During his submission, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, orally withdrew the previous information and replaced it with amended information. The lead counsel to the defendants, Chief Gordy Uche, did not object to this.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge against them. Chief Gordy Uche, their lead counsel, requested that the court allow the defendants to continue on bail under the previous terms.
He then asked the court to grant bail to the first defendant, Oladipupo Adebutu, on self-recognizance, stating that he voluntarily appeared in court.
However, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, opposed the prayer for the first defendant to be granted bail on self-recognizance. He stated that he had no objection to bail but disagreed with the self-recognizance clause.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Abiodun Akinyemi, granted bail to the first defendant in the amount of N1 million. The bail requires a surety in the same amount, who can be a family member or a bondsman. The case has been adjourned until February 7, 2024, for a hearing.
