The federal government of Nigeria has arraigned Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun state, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, on seven counts, that pertains to alleged electoral offences, including vote-buying during the March 18, 2023 governorship poll.
Based on the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), he was arraigned alongside five other defendants before Justice Abiodun Akinyemi of the Ogun State High Court, Abeokuta.
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APC had dragged him before the police, alleging that he gave out 200,000 vouchers preloaded with N10,000 to prospective voters with the intent to induce voters during the March 18 governorship and state assembly election.
The arraignment was earlier delayed as Adebutu was said to have travelled out of the country for medical treatment. However, Adebutu appeared before the police upon his return to the country on December 20 and he was present in court on Tuesday to answer the charges, to which he pleaded not guilty.
In the course of the proceedings, Justice Akinyemi granted Adebutu N1m bail on “self-recognizance”, saying he came to the court of his volition and he would not abscond.
