Ogun Tribunal: PDP Calls Only Members as Witnesses
Court adjourns vote-buying case against Adebutu, nine others until September 26
As the gubernatorial petitions tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, resumed its work yesterday, many were surprised as only members of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) appeared as witnesses for the party.
One PDP member called for cross-examination was Ibuowo Ogunbowale of Sabo, Sagamu, who was accused of disrupting the electoral process after realizing his party was losing in his polling station.
Ogunbowale was cross-examined by one of the Respondents' lawyers, Ms Folake Akinlawon, and he agreed to be a member of the PDP and a former party platform aspirant. He, however, denied his involvement in the crisis that rocked his voting unit.
In addition, two other witnesses, Ibuowo Ogunbowale and Adeleye Ayomide, both from Sagamu and members of the PDP, were cross-examined by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC lawyer.
While one claimed that his lawyer had given him the witness document and that he was unaware of the contents, the other admitted that he disagreed with the provision of the electoral law, which stipulates that voters must discreetly leave the polling stations after casting their ballot.
Meanwhile, another PDP witness, Kehinde Soboyejo, opted for a cutlass as the object of his oath. Also, Adijat Ayodele, who was called to testify in favor of the PDP, admitted that he had not read his witness statement before appending his signature.
However, Faisal Yusuf of Ijoko-Ifo, who also came to testify in favor of the PDP, told the court that he had been a trader for 30 years, but his voter registration card marked "BT 591" read "civil". servant.'
In another development, the Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta adjourned the hearing in a vote-buying case against Ladi Adebutu and nine others.
During yesterday's proceedings, Adebutu was absent while the second, third, fourth, fifth and 10th defendants pleaded not guilty to all four counts and their lawyer, Muyiwa Obanewa, later urged the court to grant them bail.
The prosecutor, Rotimi Jacobs, said he was not opposed to releasing the defendants on bail. Judge Akinyemi, who later admitted the accused to bail of N100,000 and one surety each, adjourned the case until September 26, 2023, for a final hearing.
Court adjourns vote-buying case against Adebutu, nine others until September 26
As the gubernatorial petitions tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, resumed its work yesterday, many were surprised as only members of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) appeared as witnesses for the party.
One PDP member called for cross-examination was Ibuowo Ogunbowale of Sabo, Sagamu, who was accused of disrupting the electoral process after realizing his party was losing in his polling station.
Ogunbowale was cross-examined by one of the Respondents' lawyers, Ms Folake Akinlawon, and he agreed to be a member of the PDP and a former party platform aspirant. He, however, denied his involvement in the crisis that rocked his voting unit.
In addition, two other witnesses, Ibuowo Ogunbowale and Adeleye Ayomide, both from Sagamu and members of the PDP, were cross-examined by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC lawyer.
While one claimed that his lawyer had given him the witness document and that he was unaware of the contents, the other admitted that he disagreed with the provision of the electoral law, which stipulates that voters must discreetly leave the polling stations after casting their ballot.
Meanwhile, another PDP witness, Kehinde Soboyejo, opted for a cutlass as the object of his oath. Also, Adijat Ayodele, who was called to testify in favor of the PDP, admitted that he had not read his witness statement before appending his signature.
However, Faisal Yusuf of Ijoko-Ifo, who also came to testify in favor of the PDP, told the court that he had been a trader for 30 years, but his voter registration card marked "BT 591" read "civil". servant.'
In another development, the Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta adjourned the hearing in a vote-buying case against Ladi Adebutu and nine others.
During yesterday's proceedings, Adebutu was absent while the second, third, fourth, fifth and 10th defendants pleaded not guilty to all four counts and their lawyer, Muyiwa Obanewa, later urged the court to grant them bail.
The prosecutor, Rotimi Jacobs, said he was not opposed to releasing the defendants on bail. Judge Akinyemi, who later admitted the accused to bail of N100,000 and one surety each, adjourned the case until September 26, 2023, for a final hearing.
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