Few days after his return to Nigeria, the Ogun state governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last general elections, Oladipupo Adebutu on Wednesday morning paid a visit to the state Police Headquarters at Eleweran in Abeokuta. Although details of his visit are yet to be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, it may not be unconnected to a case of conspiracy, electoral offences (votes buying) and money laundering filed against the politician.
Adebutu was away on medical grounds when the matter was being investigated and so could not attend to it physically. He was invited by the police through a letter dated April 16, 2023, signed by one Muhammed Babakura, a deputy commissioner of police, following the information received from the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Federation.
The governing All Progressives Congress had severally, accused Adebutu of evading the law and refusing to answer to the allegations of vote-buying during the last governorship election.
APC spokesperson in the state, Tunde Oladunjoye, repeated the allegation almost immediately Adebutu returned to the state. He insisted that Adebutu must respond to the allegations. Speaking during an interview recently, Oladunjoye described Adebutu’s decision to stay abroad as the running away from his shadow.
“The truth is that he is running away from the law. Recently, the PDP itself, in a press statement on Friday, December 8, 2023, acknowledged that five of its members were being tried for vote-buying at the state’s High Court, Abeokuta, presided over by Justice Kehinde Akinyemi.
“The party said they were caught with 52 ATM cards and the PDP agent cards on the day of the governorship and House of Assembly elections. However, the party did not mention the name written on the ATM cards. So, you will then realize why Ladi Adebutu is still on his so-called “medical vacation” since April 2023. He is afraid of his shadow.” He said