Muyiwa Obanewa, Counsel to the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu has dispelled reports that his client was arraigned before a state High Court over alleged vote buying.
Obanewa who spoke with newsmen in Abeokuta on Tuesday insisted that Adebutu was yet to be served court documents regarding the case.
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New Telegraph had earlier reported that Adebutu was arraigned in absentia alongside nine others over alleged vote buying during the March 18 governorship election in the state.
Upon an allegation raised by the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yemi Sanusi, the federal government through the office of the Attorney general of the federation and minister for justice, charged the top politician and nine others to court.
But, Adebutu is yet to honour the police invitation over the allegations as he is out of the country.
Speaking with journalists, Adebutu’s counsel said the case was ‘merely a political stunt’ which cannot stand the test of time.
“Only five of the 10 defendants were served and they appeared in court yesterday (Monday). Rotimi Jacob (SAN) was the counsel that came for the prosecution and appeared for the defendants.
“Their plea was taken and we applied for bail and the court granted them bail in very lenient terms to show that the charge is not a very serious one.
“The bail was granted in the sum of N100,000 and one surety. So that gives you an idea first of all that the charge has no leg to stand on.
“We applied and we took them out on bail that same yesterday and they are in their homes now. The case has been adjourned to September 26 for commencement of trial,” Obanewa said.
He added that, according to the electoral act, only the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, can sue an individual over matters of electoral offences.
His words, “The duty to investigate electoral matters is that of INEC and not the chairman of APC in Ogun State. We are waiting for them, let them come, and we will meet them in court. We are waiting for the APC chairman to even come and give evidence.
“INEC is not aware of it. If you look at the electoral act, only INEC can initiate criminal prosecutions involving electoral offences, not a party chairman, not an individual.”
When asked if Adebutu was arraigned in absentia, Obanewa said, “It is not true that Adebutu had been docked. As we speak he has not even been served, he is not even aware of it and until you are aware and served with a court process, you cannot be alleged to have evaded the court. He has to be served before he can be arraigned.
“He was not arraigned, his name merely appeared on the information sheet because he had not been served. He and four others have not been served and until he is served they cannot claim that he has avoided coming to court. Let them go and serve him, once he is served he will appear in court and then put in his own defence.”
The Counsel, however, expressed their readiness for the commencement of the definite hearing of the matter.
“We are ready for the case. We have seen the proof of evidence, we have seen that purely it is political because the APC chairman was the one that wrote the petition to the police, which is not his duty.”
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