The candidate of the PDP in the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Ogun State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu was on Tuesday arraigned before a state high court sitting in Abeokuta on a seven – count charge bordering on money laundering.
The Federal Government is arraigning Adebutu and six others in a case number AB/10c/2023 (FRN Vs Adebutu &Ors.
When the charges were read out to them, Adebutu and the six other defendants pleaded not guilty.
Their lead counsel, Chief Gordy Uche pleaded with the court to allow the 2nd to 5th and 10th defendants to continue to enjoy bail on earlier terms.
Uche, further prayed the court to grant the first defendant, Oladipupo Adebutu, bail on self recognition, saying he came to the court on his own volition.
However, his prayer that Adebutu , should be granted bail on self recognition was opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs.
Jacobs submitted that while he has no objection to the prayer for bail, he disagreed with the self recognition clause.
In his ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Abiodun Akinyemi, granted the 1st defendant bail in the sum of N1 million with a surety in the like sum who may be a family member or bondsman, as the case was adjourned till 7th February 2024 for hearing
Adebutu , is being accused of criminal 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 pre-loaded ATM verve cards with N10,000 and distributed same on the day of election across the State with criminal intention of inducing voters in the State.
Adebutu and six other people were later charged to court by the police, during which he sneaked out of the country for months and returned December 2023.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, earlier in his submission orally withdrew the prior information supplied, and substituted same with amended information, without any objection from the lead counsel to the defendants, Chief Gordy Uche. (vitalnewsngr.com)
