FG amends charges, as Adebutu faces trial over alleged vote buying in Ogun… 

Ladi Adebutu, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2023 general election in Ogun, was, on Tuesday, arraigned before a state High Court sitting in Abeokuta.

Adebutu was arraigned, alongside nine others, even as the Federal Government amended the charges filed against them.

The charges were amended in the case instituted in July 2023 over allegations of financial inducement of voters during the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state.

Other nine defendants had, in July 2023, been arraigned, with the exception of Adebutu who was reportedly out of the country then.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Counsel to the federal government, Rotimi Jacobs, told the court that the charge had been amended, having served Adebutu who is a major defendant in the suit.

Jacobs, thereafter, prayed the court to accept the amended charges, with counsel to the defendants, Gordy Uche not objecting to it.

Justice Abiodun Akinyemi granted the application and subsequently took the pleas of Adebutu and the six other defendants who were present in court.

Adebutu and the six other defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them.

Consequently, the judge granted Adebutu bail in the sum of N1 million, with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case till Feb. 7 for trial.