The Federal Government on Tuesday arraigned Oladipupo Adebutu alongside five others before an Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the State capital, on seven count charges, bordering on vote buying and other offenses in a case number B/10c/2023 (FRN Vs Adebutu &Ors). Adebutu, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the gubernatorial election held on March 18, 2023, was accused of inducement during the poll by security agents alongside other members of his party. He was alleged to have ordered through his bank the issuance of 200,000 preloaded ATM Verve cards with N10,000 and distributed the same on the day of the election across the state with the criminal intention of inducing voters in the state. The accused plus six others were later charged to court by the police, Adebutu was said to have journeyed out of the country for medical attention and returned in December 2023.
Adebutu, while appearing physically for the first time before the court, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges slammed against him.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs SAN, earlier in his submission verbally 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.
Uche pleaded with the court to permit the defendants 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 availed himself to the court of his volition.
However, his prayer that Adebutu should be granted bail on self-recognition was opposed by the prosecuting counsel, 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 for one million Naira 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.
