Four persons have been arraigned for bribing voters to ensure the return of the Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, for a second term in office during the last governorship election in the state.
The suspects, Adeyemo Bahiru Abiodun, Abidogun Ismail, Jimoh Kazeem and Yekini Nurudeen Abiodun, were dragged to court by the Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
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EFCC charged the accused with conspiracy to bribe and bribery contrary to Section 121 (1) (5) which are punishable under Section 121 (1) (d) of the Electoral Act 2022.
The suspects were arrested in July, at different polling units for inducing voters with cash to aid the return of the governor.
EFCC told the court that 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 defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Sesan Ola and Andrew Akoja, who prosecuted the case for the EFCC, asked the court to fix a date for hearing and remand the defendants.
In response, the defence team, led by N. T. Adekilekun and M. O. Sambo, prayed the court to admit the defendants to bail.
Justice Mathias Agboola of the Osun State High Court, Oshogbo, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N2m with one surety each in like sum, among other conditions, and adjourned to November 21 and 28, 2022.
