The former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, along with six others, asserted their innocence against allegations of vote buying in the state’s last election during their plea before the Ogun State High Court on Tuesday.

Adebutu, the primary defendant in Suit AB/10c/2023 (FRN Vs Adebutu & Ors) filed by the Federal Government, appeared in court to defend himself against the accusations.

The Federal Government alleged that Adebutu instructed his bank to issue preloaded ATM Verve cards worth N200,000, each containing N10,000, which were distributed across the state on the election day to induce voters.

Rotimi Jacobs, counsel for the Federal Government, requested the court to amend the charges to include Adebutu, who was absent during the suit’s initiation in July 2023 due to medical reasons.

“Yes, he was served this (Tuesday) morning. We filed this morning also. He came and just got his statement,” Jacobs said.

The court granted the amendment application, unopposed by Adebutu’s counsel, Gordy Uche.

Subsequently, Adebutu and six other defendants present in court entered their pleas.

Uche requested bail on Adebutu’s behalf, citing the defendant’s prompt appearance despite short notice of the hearing.

 “You know before now, there has been news all over that our client is at large. I am happy that today he is here in person. In fact, he presented himself to court voluntarily and it was inside the court that he signed for the charge sheet.

“He has taken his plea, he has pleaded not guilty to all the seven counts of the charge. We are happy that we are here and we are ready for the trial hopefully we will come tomorrow and continue with the trial.

“The important thing is that he has put to rest all the speculations that he ran away, he is outside the country. Within all this time, he was taking his treatment and he is back, back to take his trial. There’s nothing that has gone wrong. He has come here voluntarily and he has taken his plea. We are ready for the trial,” Uche said.

In a ruling, Justice Abiodun Akinyemi granted Adebutu bail set at N1 million with one surety, adjourning the trial to the following day.

The case resumes tomorrow, continuing the legal proceedings.