The governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, recently appeared before an Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta.
He was accused of vote buying and other related electoral offences during the March 18, 2023 governorship election.
Adebutu and six other suspects were charged with seven counts of criminal inducement during the poll.
He allegedly ordered the issuance of 200,000 preloaded ATM verve cards with N10,000, distributed on election day to voters in the state to induce them to vote in his favour.
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At the court hearing, Adebutu pleaded not guilty to all charges.
His lead counsel, Chief Gordy Uche, asked the court to grant his client bail on self-recognizance, stating that he came to the court of his own volition.
However, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, disagreed with the self-recognizance clause.
The presiding judge, Justice Abiodun Akinyemi, granted Adebutu bail for one million naira with a surety in the like sum, who may be a family member or bondsman.
The case has been adjourned tomorrow for a hearing on February 7, 2024.
