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Tag: Ladi Adebutu

  • Vote buying: FG amends charges against Ogun PDP guber candidate

    Vote buying: FG amends charges against Ogun PDP guber candidate

    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.

    The 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.

    In the suit, marked: AB/10c/2023 (FRNvsAdebutu &Ors), the federal government alleged that Adebutu ordered, through his bank, the issuance of 200,000 preloaded ATM verve cards with N10,000.

    The cards were said to have been distributed on the day of election across the state, with the intent to induce voters.

    Counsel to Adebutu, however, prayed the court to grant Adebutu bail on self-recognisance, saying that he (Adebutu) was only served on Tuesday morning and he still presented himself in court.

    Jacobs did not object to the bail application. 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.

    Speaking with newsmen after the court sitting, the federal government’s counsel confirmed that Adebutu was served on Tuesday.

    “Yes, he was served this morning (Tuesday). We filed this morning also. He came and just got his statement,” Jacobs said.

    On his part, Adebutu’s counsel, Uche, said: “You know that before now, there had been news all over that our client was at large.

    “I’m happy that today, he is here in person. In fact, he presented himself to court voluntarily and it was inside the court that he signed for the charge sheet.

    “He had taken his plea; he had pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge.

    “We are happy that we are here and we are ready for the trial. Hopefully, we will come tomorrow and continue with the trial.

    “The important thing is that he has put to rest all the speculations that he ran away; he was outside the country. Within this time, he was taking his treatment and he is back to face the trial.

    “There’s nothing that has gone wrong. He has come here voluntarily and he has taken his plea. We are ready for the trial.”

    Uche, however, maintained that the charges against his client had nothing to do with money laundering.

  • Coalition of Civil Society Groups Decries Threats to Ladi Adebutus life

    Coalition of Civil Society Groups Decries Threats to Ladi Adebutus life

    Coalition of Civil Society Groups (CCSG) in Ogun State equivocally condemns the reported threat to the life of Mr. Ladi Adebutu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 18, 2023 governorship election in Ogun State.
    Mr. Adebutu who is currently challenging the outcome of 2023 governorship election at the Tribunal is reported to have fled the country following credible information about an orchestrated plot to silence him and frustrate his determination to reclaim the mandate of the electorate in Ogun State.
    CCSG is worried about the unwholesome development and therefore demand urgent and decisive action be taken by the relevant authorities across security agencies to restore Mr. Adebutus security details and reassure him and the supporters of their safety within and outside Ogun State.
    The outrightly withdrawal of Mr. Adebutus security aides by the DSS and reduction of the number of personnel attached to him by the police raise serious concerns. It is alarming that security details of leading political actor could be withdrawn unmindful of the overriding implication for the safety and security of Mr. Adebutu, his family and political associates
    CCSG is indeed alarmed by the outcry of Mr. Adebutu and therefore calls on the Inspector General of Police and heads of other security agencies to investigate the alleged threat which signposts a more perilous dimension to the already political situation in Ogun State. CCGS is not unmindful of the tense political atmosphere that heralded the 2023 governorship election in Ogun State and therefore alarmed by the rather inconsiderate disruption in the security plan of Mr. Adebutu. CCSG is concerned that the action of security agencies is capable of exposing him to jeopardy. T
    The withdrawal of Mr. Adebutu security personnel by the DSS is more worrisome considering that hes currently challenging the outcome of the election as provided for by the Electoral Act and the Constitution.
    With the controversies surrounding the results of the governorship election across Ogun state and announcement of the incumbent Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun as winner of the election, there should be no denying that the political situation in Ogun State remains precarious and therefore require greater vigilance from security agencies. CCSG is therefore strongly of the view that Mr. Adebutu as a leading actor in the yet to be finally decided governorship contest deserves maximum protection rather than being unduly exposed to likelihood of danger from any quarters.
    While it has become a matter of utmost imperative to investigate the alleged threats to Mr. Adebutus life, CCSG in Ogun State demands full restoration of security details without further delay. CCSG demands that the IGP and Director General of DSS should immediately engage Mr. Adebutu in meaningful discussions bordering on his concerns about the state of security in Ogun State.
    CCSG therefore expressly and unreservedly warns that nothing untoward should happen to Mr. Adebutu and any of his lieutenants or supporters so as not to plunge Ogun State into enclave of needless fears and uncertainly. To this extent, the urgent intervention of the IGP and the DG of the DSS is necessary to reassure Mr. Adebutu and his supporters of their safety within and outside Ogun State.
  • Ogun PDP: I’m the authentic governorship candidate – Adebutu

    Ogun PDP: I’m the authentic governorship candidate – Adebutu

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu has sent a message to another member of the party, Segun Showunmi to stop parading himself as the party’s factional candidate.

    Adebutu added that Showunmi should stop misleading the media into believing there are two governorship aspirants in the Ogun PDP.

    Adebutu said there is nothing like a factional candidate in an election, saying there can only be factional aspirants.

    The Ijebu-born politician noted that the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) forwarded his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and it has been accepted and published by the electoral umpire.

    He said he was duly elected in a primary election monitored by INEC and the party’s NWC, stating that his name has been published on the INEC portal as the 2023 gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Ogun.

    He added that he was surprised to see that Showunmi still parades himself as the factional candidate of the party.

    Speaking at the party’s inaugural meeting of the Ogun Central Campaign Council held at the OOPL, Abeokuta, Adebutu maintained that there is no basis for anybody to parade himself as a factional candidate after INEC has released the names of qualified and duly elected candidates.

    “Showunmi who knows he did not partake in the primary election is now making noise in the media, being addressed as the factional candidate. I have never heard of anything like a factional candidate in my life. Those two things are exclusive; you can be a factional aspirant, you cannot be a factional candidate. There can be only one candidate. You cannot be a factional candidate.

    ”The party said this is my candidate. The INEC published the same person as the candidate of the party, yet some people are still addressing Showunmi as the factional candidate. Are they doing that in the interest of the public? This is a big question,” Adebutu said.

    Addressing the PDP members, Adebutu said there must be inclusiveness to promote inter-party relations.

    The purpose, he said, is to give new defectees a sense of belonging by carrying everybody along during the campaign.

    Similarly, the party’s deputy governorship candidate, Adekunle Akinlade said the party is prepared for a robust and issue-based campaign ahead of next year’s election.

    According to Akinlade, the PDP had in the last couple of works engaged in thorough discussions about strategies with the party’s technical teams, expressing confidence that the PDP would win the 2023 elections.

    In his words, the Coordinator of Inter-Party Affairs for PDP Campaign in Ogun Central, Oladele Olaleye, stated that the party has created a means to receive support from members of other political parties as well as non-politicians who love the PDP or its candidates.

    As the Coordinator in Ogun Central, Olaleye said the gathering was to coalesce people from the six local governments in Ogun Central – Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Ewekoro, Ifo, Odeda, and Obafemi Owode.

    He added that the Local Government and Ward Coordinators are brought together so they could start mobilizing support for the PDP at the grassroots.

     

  • Four years is enough for me as Ogun gov – PDP candidate, Adebutu

    Four years is enough for me as Ogun gov – PDP candidate, Adebutu

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, has disclosed that a term is enough for him to rule the state.

    The Iperu-born politician said this while he featured on Yoruba radio programme, Oju Abe, on Splash 106.5FM, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    According to Adebutu, he is seeking the governorship post to complete the eight years quota of the Ogun East senatorial district.

    When asked to state categorically if he would spend only four years when elected governor of Ogun, Adebutu replied in the affirmative, saying: “Four years is enough to make a change. It is enough to do whatever you have in mind. It is enough. Once you create a template to do well, four years is okay. I am telling you, four years is enough.”

    As part of his template, the former lawmaker promised to return power to the local governments, generate power independently, engage in massive road construction and make the State a better place for all.

    He charged Ogun people to remain law abiding as the nation moves towards the 2023 electioneering period.

    He stated that he would be available for a governorship debate when the campaign fully starts.

  • Ogun PDP: Reconciliation process in progress – Ladi Adebutu

    Ogun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, says he has started the process of reconciliation with all aggrieved party members in state.

    Adebutu, who stated this while addressing newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday shortly after collecting his Certificate of Return, said that the document had also authenticated his candidacy.

    He added that his reconciliation move was not just within the party but all stakeholders within the state to ensure that PDP won the state in 2023.

    “We are grateful to God that we are rewarded today. We know the journey is too far. We still have many odds to cross and we are not perturbed by the job ahead because we are driven by the need to set our people free from the shackles of mis-governance.

    “We take this as a challenge to work harder and we are particularly grateful that our people and the party, PDP, have given us this opportunity to go forward and rescue our state.”

    Adebutu, who also commended PDP for organising a convention that was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Ogun, said achieving that had previously been a challenge to PDP in the state.

    The governorship hopeful said: “It is now a duty for all concerned to go forward and do reconciliation. I can assure you that we have already embarked on that duty.

    “We will continue to reach out to those that feel that they have a grouse. I am sure that with time, we shall have total reconciliation.

    “We shall even extend our hands of fellowship beyond the party and make it an inter-party thing because we can even see fellow brothers from other parties trying to join our party now and I’m sure that after their convention, we shall be welcoming them.”

    The PDP governorship candidate in Plateau State, Mr Caleb Mutfwang, also appreciated the party and people of the state for giving him the opportunity.

    Mutfwang promised that when elected governor, he would tackle insecurity in the state and return its internally displaced persons to their ancestral homes.

    “Ultimately, our desire is that there should be no IDP camp in Plateau. There is no moral justification for people to be dislocated from their ancestral homes.

    “We will put everything in place to ensure that people go back to their ancestral homes,” Mutfwang said.

    Also speaking, Kebbi state PDP governorship flag bearer, Gen. Aminu Bande (Rtd), appreciated the party for the confidence bestowed on him.

    Bande expressed confidence that he would win the secondary election and promisedt not to disappoint the party and the people of the state when elected governor