Four suspects identified as Adeyemo Bahiru Abiodun, Abidogun Ismail, Jimoh Kazeem and Yekini Nurudeen Abiodun were arraigned on Monday at the State High Court, Osogbo for allegedly bribing voters to vote for Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress during the 16 July 2022 Osun governorship election.
Adeyemi, Abidogun and Jimoh were arrested at Polling Unit 002, Ward 2, Ababu, Isale Osun, while Abiodun was picked up at Unit 2, Isale Agbara, Oshogbo, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC said in a statement issued on the arraignment of the suspects.
According to EFCC, the suspects were arrested at different polling Units following credible intelligence that they were inducing voters with money to vote their preferred candidate.
While the charge against Adeyemo, Abidogun and Jimoh was consolidated, Yekini was arraigned on a separate charge.
The charge against the trio of Adeyemo, Abidogun and Jimoh reads: “Adeyemo Bashiru Abiodun, Abidogun Ismail and Jimoh Kazeem on the 16th of July 2022 in Oshogbo within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired to corruptly make monetary gifts to voters at Unit 2, ward 2, Isale Odun, Oshogbo, Osun State in order to induce them to procure the return of Mr Adegboyega Oyetola to an elective office of the Governor of Osun State at the Osun State Gubernatorial Election”
The charge against Abiodun reads, “You Nurudeen Abiodun on 16th July, 2022 at Oshogbo within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court corruptly made monetary gift to voters at Polling Unit 002, Ward 8, Are Agbo Isale Agbara in order to induce them to procure the return of Adegboyega Oyetola to an elective office of Governor of Osun State.”
The suspects who were arraigned before Justice Mathias Agboola of the State High Court, Oshogbo pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Upon their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, Sesan Ola and Andrew Akoja asked the court to fix a date for hearing and remand the defendants in the Correctional Center pending trial.
But the defence counsel, N. T Adekilekun and M. O Sambo prayed the Court to admit the defendants to bail. They argued that the defendants had been granted bail by a Kwara State High Court, Ilorin and had not breached the terms.
Opposing the bail application, the prosecution counsel contended that electoral offences are grievous and urged the court to consider the weight of the evidence before it in exercising its discretion.
Justice Agboola granted the defendants bail in the sum of N2million with one surety each in like sum. The surety, who must not be below Grade Level 13 in the State Civil Service, must deposit their Identity card with a recent passport photograph to the Registrar of the Court.
The cases were adjourned till November 21 and 28, 2022 for commencement of trial.
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