A High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, adjourned its hearing on Wednesday in a case of alleged vote-buying instituted by the federal government against the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, and nine others.
At the resumed hearing, Counsel to the FG, Rotimi Jacobs, called an official of the Nigerian digital payment company, Interswitch Ltd., Seyi Binuyo, and two others.
The Federal government had dragged Adebutu and nine others to court over allegations of vote-buying during the March 18 governorship election in the state in the suit marked AB/10c/2023 (FRN vs. Adebutu &Ors).
The federal government had alleged that Adebutu directed his bank to issue N200,000 preloaded ATM Verve cards with N10,000 and distribute the same on the day of the election across the state with the intention of inducing voters in the state.
Binuyo, a scheme managing executive at Interswitch Ltd., informed the court that the verve cards were duly approved by his company, adding that the request for the design of the cards followed all the stipulated requirements and guidelines of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He said, “We reviewed the guidelines and checked through the request for the cards before giving our approval.”
The court admitted the certificate of approval for the cards tendered by the prosecuting counsel as an exhibit.
The two other witnesses who voted during the election said they were offered the preloaded cards at their polling units.
The witnesses were cross-examined by the defence counsel, Gordy Uche.
Justice Abiodun Akinyemi, however, adjourned the case till March 19 and 20 for the continuation of the hearing.