Aftermath of Governorship poll: Ladi Adebutu risks prosecution over alleged N2billion vote buying, money laundering
The Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State at the just concluded Governorship election, Hon Ladi Adebutu now risk prosecution following his alleged role in voting buying and money laundering during the March 18, 2023 poll
Penpushing reports that an online media outlet had earlier revealed that interim police report on the allegation showed that the politician who claimed to be abroad for medical check as at the time of filing this report, alleged that he dispensed N2billion to induce voters to vote for him to enable him become the Governor of the State.
The politician had earlier claimed that he fled the country alleging that his life was in danger, and in response to the claim the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which wrote petition against him said he hurriedly travelled to evade arrest for prosecution over his alleged activities in illegality during the elections
Penpushing further reports that the petition signed by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Abdullahi Sanusi alleged Adebutu of distributing Automated Machine (ATM) cards preloaded with N10, 000 to induce voters.
The petitioner in the petition dated March 18, 2023 and submitted to the Inspector General of Police emphasised that Adebutu used Verve Automate Machine (ATM) credit cards branded in his late mother’s name, ‘Dame Caroline Oladunni Adebutu Endowment Scheme, on election day to buy votes.
Penpushing also reports that findings showed that following the petition, a Deputy Commissioner of Police has been assigned to lead team of investigator to unravel the alleged money laundering and vote buying.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the petition stressed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as part of method to carry out the illegality stationed Point of Sales (P.O.S) vendors in every polling booth to further convinced the voters to cash money.
Penpushing reports that source, however, disclosed that the Governorship Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ordered the cards on 27 February, 2023, which were loaded with cash credit on 16 and 17 March 2023 ahead of the 18 March, 2023 Governorship election.
The sources disclosed that as at the time of filing this report Adebutu, was said to have claimed thorough his lawyer that he was receiving treatment abroad, while it was also gathered that both the police operatives and officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested five suspects over the allegation.
Penpushing further reports that the suspects were said to have been found with hundreds of the credit cards on the election day, and they include Adejoke Sanni(50), Hammed Ogunbona (45), Waliu Tiamiyu (35), Owolabi Egunsola (50), and Malik Badmus (41)
The source revealed that investigation team had equally interrogated some Point of Sale (POS) operators as well as inviting the issuers of the credit cards, as well as Zenith Bank from which vaults the cash were to be drawn.
Penpushing also reports that the Head of Card Services at Zenith Bank, during interrogation was quoted to have told the police that Adebutu, approached the bank in February 2023 that his family planned to do an endowment scheme in the form of prepaid cards in commemoration of their late matriarch Dame Caroline Oladunni Adebutu.
The sources said the bank management admitted that Adebutu had been a customer of the bank since 2009, explaining that each card was loaded with N10, 000, totaling N2 billion, with the fund drawn from his (Adebutu’s) account with the bank.
Penpushing further reports that the legal team said to be representing Adebutu in response to police invitation claimed that the politician had travelled abroad for medicals, prior to the delivery of the invitation letter, with assurance that he would honour the invitation on return.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it is recalled lost at the Governorship poll after polling 262, 383 votes behind All Progressives Congress (APC) Candidate Dapo Abiodun who polled 276, 298 votes, and was officially declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), but not satisfy Adebutu headed to the tribunal.
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