Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC has paraded four suspect before High Court in Osogbo for vote buying during July 16, 2022 Osun governorship election.
The EFCC Ilorin Zonal command on monday paraded four persons identified as Adeyemo Bashiru Abiodun, Abidogun Ismail, Jimoh Kazeem and Yekini Nurudeen Abiodun before Justice Mathias Agboola of High Court in Osogbo for electoral offence during the last governorship election in the state.
They were arrested at different polling units by EFCC on election day for vote buying, Adeyemi Bashiru Abiodun, Abidogun Ismail and Jimoh Kazeem were arrested at Ward 2 unit 002 of Osogbo local government in Isale Osun while Yekini Nurudeen Abiodun was arrested at Ward 8 Unit 2 in Isale Agbara according information made available by EFCC.
Adeyemo, Abidogun and Jimoh was consolidated were charged together but 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.”
All the arraigned suspects pleaded not guilty of the charge before Justice Mathias Agboola of the State High Court, Oshogbo.
The prosecuting counsel, Sesan Ola and Andrew Akoja despite the pleas of the suspects asked the court remand the defendants in the Correctional Center and fix a date for hearing.
N. T Adekilekun and M. O Sambo, the defence counsel 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.
Before adjourning the case to November 21 and 28, 2022 for commencement of trial, 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.
