The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned alleged vote buyers arrested during the last Osun State governorship election before the State High Court in Osogbo for trading votes.
The defendants, Adeyemo Abiodun, Abidogun Ismail, Jimoh Kazeem and Yekini Abiodun, all appeared before Justice Mathias Agboola,
According to EFCC, the defendants were arrested on July 16, 2022, by the operatives at different polling units within Osogbo metropolis while trading votes for cash.
The charge sheet further read in parts, “Adeyemo Bashiru Abiodun, Abidogun Ismail and Jimoh Kazeem on the 16th of July 2022 in Oshogbo within the jurisdiction of this honourable court conspired to corruptly make monetary gifts to voters at unit 2, ward 2, Isale Odun, Oshogbo, Osun State, in order to induce them to procure the return of Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola to an elective office of the governor of Osun State at the Osun State governorship election.”
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In the case of Nurudeen, who was arraigned separately, he was said to have “on 16th July, 2022, at Oshogbo within the judicial division of this honourable court corruptly made monetary gifts to voters at polling unit 002, ward 8, Are Agbo Isale Agbara, in order to induce them to procure the return of Adegboyega Oyetola to an elective office of governor of Osun State at the governorship election of July 16, 2022.”
The four defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
EFCC prosecutors, Sesan Ola, told the court to remand the defendants in the correctional centre pending the commencement of hearing into their matters.
But the defence counsel, N. Adekilekun and M. Sambo, made oral applications for their clients asking the court to admit them to bail.
In his ruling, Justice Agboola admitted the defendants to bail to the sum of N2m with one surety each in like sum and subsequently adjourned the two cases till November 21 and 28, 2022 respectively, for the commencement of trial.
