The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun, in the last election, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, and six others, have pleaded not guilty to allegation of vote buying filed against them before the Ogun State High Court, on Tuesday.
Adebutu who is the major defendant in the Suit AB/10c/2023 (FRN Vs Adebutu &Ors), filed by the Federal Government, appeared in court to defend himself.
The FG had alleged that Adebutu ordered through his bank the issuance of N200,000 preloaded ATM verve cards with N10,000 and distributed same on the day of election across the State with the intent of inducing voters.
The FG through its counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, had prayed the court for charges amendment in order to accommodate and arraign Adebutu in the suit instituted in July 2023.
It will be recalled that nine other defendants were arraigned by the Federal Government in July 2023 with the exception of Adebutu who was outside the country on medical grounds.
The application for the amendment charge was not opposed by Counsel to Adebutu, Gordy Uche.
The application was thereafter granted by Justice Abiodun Akinyemi.
However, the Court took the plea of Adebutu and six other defendants present in court.
While Uche urged the court to grant Adebutu bail on self-recognition grounds.
He explained to the court that the defendant was served on Tuesday in the morning, saying he presented himself despite the short notice.
In his ruling, Justice Akinyemi granted Adebutu bail in the sum of N1 million and one surety.
He adjourned the case till Wednesday (tomorrow) for trial.
Speaking with newsmen, the FG’s Counsel said Adebutu was served on Tuesday morning.
“Yes, he was served this (Tuesday) morning. We filed this morning also. He came and just got his statement,” Jacobs said.
On his part, Uche said “You know before now, there has been news all over that our client is at large. I am happy that today he is here in person. In fact, he presented himself to court voluntarily and it was inside the court that he signed for the charge sheet.
“He has taken his plea, he has pleaded not guilty to all the seven counts of the charge. We are happy that we are here and we are ready for the trial hopefully we will come tomorrow and continue with the trial.
“The important thing is that he has put to rest all the speculations that he ran away, he is outside the country. Within all this time, he was taking his treatment and he is back, back to take his trial. There’s nothing that has gone wrong. He has come here voluntarily and he has taken his plea. We are ready for the trial.”
Uche also said the charge “has nothing to do with money laundering”.