Ogun: Double Trouble For Adebutu

For Ladi Adebutu, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the last governorship election in the state, things are not going on well.

Ladi, the son of Betting Mogul, Adebutu Kessington, who lost his appeal against the election of Governor Dapo Abiodun, last month,  was on Tuesday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC over alleged vote buying during the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the Gateway state as Ogun is popular.

The politician was arraigned by the federal government in the criminal case marked AB/10c/2023 in Abeokuta the state capital yesterday.

According to the facts of the case seen by the magazine, the PDP governorship candidate was alleged to have induced voters during the poll by giving them 200,000 vouchers pre-loaded with N10,000.

He pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned alongside five others before Justice Abiodun Akinyemi of the state High Court in Kobape Road, Abeokuta.

He had been released on bail by the judge after his counsel pleaded for him that he would be available in court whenever he’s required to do so.

For those watching the state, Adebutu’s situation can be described as a double jeopardy having recently lost his appeal at the nation’s Supreme Court which affirmed the incumbent as governor.

Following the declaration of Governor Abiodun by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the PDP candidate challenged his election at the state Election Tribunal, on the basis that the election did not comply with the Electoral Act 2019 as amended.

The tribunal rejected his plea and affirmed Abiodun as dully elected.

Adebutu later approached the Court of Appeal last year, praying that the verdict of the tribunal be overturned in his favour, his appeal was thrown out by the panel, after which he approached the apex court for justice.

On January 19, the Supreme Court upheld the election of Abiodun, ruling that Adebutu failed to prove allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act during the conduct of the 18 March election .

“This appeal is unmeritorious and ought to be dismissed and it is hereby dismissed. The judgement of the Court is hereby affirmed,” Justice Tijjani Abubakar, who read the judgement, said.