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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Police have arraigned Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State in the 2023 election, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutuon, on seven count charges bordering on money laundering and other offences.
Adebutu was arraigned before an Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, on Tuesday.
Recall that Adebutu and some PDP members were accused of criminal inducement during the March 18 governorship election by the police.
He was alleged to have ordered through his bank the issuance of 200,000 preloaded 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 others were later charged to court by the police, during which he sneaked out of the country for months before returning in December 2023.
The prosecuting counsel Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), earlier in his submission orally withdrew the prior information supplied and substituted same with amended information, without any objection from the lead cousel to the defendants, Chief Gordy Uche (SAN).
While all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the seven count charges preferred against them, their lead counsel, Uche pleaded with the court to allow the 2nd to 5th and 10th defendants to continue to enjoy their bail on earlier terms.
He then prayed the court to grant the first defendant, Adebutu, bail on self recognition, saying he came to the court on his volition.
However, prosecuting counsel, Jacobs opposed Uche’s prayer that Adebutu should be granted bail on self recognition. He noted that he has no objection to the prayer for bail, but disagreed with the self recognition clause.
After listening to both counsels, the presiding judge, Justice Abiodun Akinyemi, granted Adebutu bail in the sum of N1 million with a surety in the like sum, who may be a family member or bondsman.
The judge adjourned the case till February 7, 2024 for hearing.