An Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta on Thursday commenced hearing in a case of money laundering and vote buying preferred against Ladi Adebutu , the Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.
The case was instituted against Adebutu and nine other suspects by the Federal Government.
The case is before Justice Abiodun Akinyemi.
When the case was called, Ladi Adebutu and four other accused persons failed to show up in court.
Adebutu and the four suspects were said to be at large.
However, five of the 10 accused persons were in court.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Goddy Uche announced appearance for Adebutu.
Uche claimed that Adebutu had been on “medical vacation” since April 2023.
Chief Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, appeared for the prosecution.
Fifty-two ATM debit cards bearing the name Dame Caroline Adebutu Foundation were presented and accepted as exhibits along with a PDP polling agent tag and a motorcycle that four of the suspects were riding on the day of their arrest.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented two witnesses for cross-examination.
One of them is a POS operator, who claimed he earned a commission on the N10,000 transactions on the debit cards.
Hearing in the case continues tomorrow, Friday, December 8, 2023, as agreed to by both parties.(vitalnewsngr.com)
