December 07, (THEWILL) – The Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, on Thursday, commenced hearing of proceedings by the Federal Government against Ladi Adebutu, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18, 2023, governorship and House of Assembly elections, on charges of money laundering and vote buying.
Five suspects were in court when the case before Justice Abiodun Akinyemi was called, while Adebutu and four other accused persons were said to be at large.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Goddy Uche, announced an appearance for Adebutu who claimed to have been on “medical vacation” since April 2023, while Chief Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) appeared for the prosecution.
Fifty-two ATM debit cards bearing the name Dame Caroline Adebutu Foundation were presented and accepted as exhibits along with a PDP polling agent tag and a motorcycle that four of the suspects were riding on the day of their arrest.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) presented two witnesses for cross-examination, including a POS operator, who claimed he earned a commission on the N10,000 transactions on the debit cards.
Hearing in the case continues on Friday, December 8, 2023, as agreed to by both parties.
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
