The Nigerian Government has arraigned the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the March 18, 2023 election in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu for alleged money laundering and other offences.
Adebutu, who was arraigned on Tuesday before an Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital, was accused of criminal inducement during the poll by security agents alongside other members of his party.
In seven counts brought by the government against the accused in Charge No: AB/10c/2023 in the case- FRN (Federal Republic of Nigeria) Vs Adebutu & Ors, the politician 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 police had earlier charged him alongside six others in court but he reportedly travelled out of the court and returned in December 2023.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, 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, Chief Gordy Uche.
While all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the seven counts preferred against them, their lead counsel, Chief Gordy Uche, pleaded with the court to allow the 2nd, 5th, and 10th defendants to continue to enjoy bail on earlier terms.
He then prayed the court to grant the first defendant, Oladipupo Adebutu, bail on his own recognizance, saying he came to the court on his own volition, according to Vanguard reports.
His prayer that Adebutu should be granted bail on his own recognizance was opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Jacobs, who according to the report, noted that while he had no objection to the prayer for bail, he disagreed with the self-recognizance clause.
The presiding judge, Justice Abiodun Akinyemi, therefore, granted the 1st defendant bail in the sum of N1 million, with a surety in a like sum.
The surety, according to the court may be a family member or bondsman.
Justice Akinyemi, consequently, adjourned the case till February 7, 2024, for a hearing.
END.