AMILOADED MEDIA HUB NEWS UPDATE
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Command on Monday, October 24, 2022 arraigned four persons before Justice Mathias Agboola of the State High Court, Oshogbo for alleged bribery of voters during the Osun State governorship election held on July 16, 2022.
The defendants are Adeyemo Bahiru Abiodun, Abidogun Ismail, Jimoh Kazeem and Yekini Nurudeen Abiodun
They were arrested by operatives of the EFCC at different polling Units following credible intelligence that they were inducing voters with money to vote their preferred candidate.
Specifically, 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.
While the charge against Adeyemo, Abidogun and Jimoh was consolidated, Yekini was arraigned on a separate charge.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge, upon their pleas, Sesan Ola and Andrew Akoja who prosecuted the cases for the Commission asked the court to fix a date for hearing and remand the defendants in the Correctional Center pending trial.
In response, the defence represented by N. T Adekilekun and M. O Sambo through respective oral applications prayed the Court to admit the defendants to bail.
They argued that the defendants had earlier been granted court bail by a Kwara State High Court, Ilorin and had not breached the terms. The defence counsel assured that the defendants would always be available in court to stand their trial.
Opposing the bail application, the prosecution counsel contended that electoral offences are grievous crimes and the court should consider the weight of the evidence before it and the prevalence of the offence.
In his ruling, 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 Services, must deposit their Identity cards with recent passports photograph to the Registrar of the court.
The two cases were adjourned till November 21 and 28, 2022 for commencement of trial.
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