The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned four persons at the Osun High Court over alleged voters’ inducement.
The defendants are Adeyemo Bahiru Abiodun, Abidogun Ismail, Jimoh Kazeem and Yekini Nurudeen Abiodun.
The commission’s prosecution counsel, Sesan Ola and Andrew Akoja, told the court that the defendants were arrested on July 16 by its officers in Osun.
Mr Ola said the defendants were arrested at different polling units following credible intelligence that they were trading votes for cash to induce voters for a particular political party.
” Adeyemi, Abidogun and Jimoh were arrested at Polling Unit 002, Ward 2, Ababu, Isale Osun, while Abiodun was picked up at Unit 2, Isale Agbara, Oshogbo.”
He said the offence contravened sections 121 (5) and 121 (1) (a), punishable under section 121 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the offence.
The lead defence counsel, N. Adekilekun, prayed the court to grant his clients bail in the most liberal terms.
Justice Mathias Agboola granted the defendants N2 million bail with one surety each.
Mr Agboola said the sureties must be civil servants on Grade Level 13 in the state civil service and must deposit their identity cards with recent passport photographs to the court registrar.
The two cases were adjourned to November 21 for a hearing.
(NAN)
