EFCC arraigns four persons over alleged vote buying during Osun guber poll
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin Zonal Command on Monday arraigned four persons over alleged vote buying before Justice Mathias Agboola of the State High Court 1, Osogbo, Osun State.
The accused are; Yekini Nurudeen Abiodun, Jimoh Kazeem, Adeyemo Bahir and Abidogun Ismail
The defendants were arrested on July 16, 2022 by operatives of the EFCC at different polling units following credible intelligence while trading vote for cash in Osogbo during the governorship election held in the state.
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, Osogbo.
While the charges against Adeyemo, Abidogun and Jimoh were consolidated, Yekini was prosecuted on a separate charge before the same court.
The charges against the trio of Adeyemo, Abidogun and Jimoh reads:
“Conspiracy to bribe contrary to section 121 (5) and punishable under section 121 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2022
“Particulars of the Offence:
“Adeyemo Bashiru Abiodun, Abidogun Ismail and Jimoh Kazeem on the 16th of July 2022 in Osogbo within the jurisdiction of this honourable court conspired to corruptly make monetary gifts to voters at unit 2, ward 2, Isale Odun, Osogbo, 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”
For Nurudeen, the charge reads: “Bribery contrary to Section 121 (1) (a) and punishable under Section 121 (1) (d) of Electoral Act, 2022
Particulars of the charge: “You Nurudeen Abiodun on 16th July, 2022 at Osogbo 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 gubernatorial election of 16th July, 2022”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Upon their pleas, Sesan Ola and Andrew Akoja, prosecuting 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 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, urging the court to 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 service, must deposit their Identity card with a recent passport photograph to the Registrar of the court.
Thereafter, the two cases were adjourned till November 21 and 28, 2022 for commencement of trial.
