EFCC arraigns four for alleged vote-buying in Osun poll

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin Zonal Command, has arraigned four persons before Justice Matthias Agboola of the Osun State High Court, Osogbo, for allegedly bribing voters during the Osun State governorship election on July 16, 2022.

EFCC operatives arrested Adeyemo Abiodun, Abidogun Ismail, Jimoh Kazeem and Abiodun Yekini at different polling units following information that they were inducing voters to elect their preferred candidate.

Specifically, Adeyemo, 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.

EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement, yesterday, disclosed that while the charge against Adeyemo, Abidogun and Jimoh was consolidated, Yekini was arraigned on a separate charge.

The charge against Adeyemo, Abidogun and Jimoh reads: “Adeyemo Bashiru Abiodun, Abidogun Ismail and Jimoh Kazeem on July 16, 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, to induce them to procure the return of Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola to an elective office of the Governor of Osun State at the Osun Gubernatorial Election.”

Against Abiodun, the charge reads: “You, Nurudeen Abiodun, on July 16, 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, to induce them to procure the return of Adegboyega Oyetola to an elective office of Governor of Osun State.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Upon their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, Sesan Ola and Andrew Akoja, asked the court to fix a date for hearing and remand the defendants in a correctional centre pending trial.

But the defence counsel, N.T. Adekilekun and M.O. Sambo, prayed the court to admit the defendants to bail. They argued that the defendants, who had been granted bail by a Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, had not breached the terms.

Opposing the bail application, the prosecution counsel contended that electoral offences were grievous and urged the court to consider the weight of the evidence before it in exercising its discretion.

Justice Agboola granted the defendants bail in the sum of N2 million 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.

The cases were adjourned till November 21 and 28, 2022 for commencement of trial.