PDP GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE ADEBUTU ARRAIGNED FOR ALLEGED ELECTION FRAUD
The Federal Government has brought charges against Oladipupo Adebutu, the PDP candidate for the gubernatorial election held on March 18, 2023, for alleged money laundering and other offenses. This development unfolded today at the Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta, with the case numbered AB/10c/2023 (FRN Vs Adebutu &Ors).
Adebutu stands accused of criminal inducement during the 2023 gubernatorial election, allegedly orchestrating the distribution of 200,000 preloaded ATM Verve cards worth N10,000 each to voters across the state. The prosecution asserts that this act was intended to influence the outcome of the election.
After evading authorities for several months, Adebutu returned to Nigeria in December 2023 and was subsequently charged alongside six others. Despite pleading not guilty to the seven-count charges, Adebutu's lead counsel, Chief Gordy Uche, sought bail for him on self-recognizance, emphasizing his voluntary appearance in court.
However, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, opposed the request for self-recognizance bail, leading to a decision by Justice Abiodun Akinyemi to grant Adebutu bail in the sum of N1 million, with a surety of the same amount, who may be a family member or bondsman.
The case has been adjourned until February 7, 2024, for further proceedings.
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