The police in Ekiti State on Friday arraigned 10 persons before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court for alleged vote buying during last Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
Police prosecutor Femi Fałade told the court that the accused persons offered money to voters to induce them to vote for their parties during the election.
The action, according to him, contravened Section 130 (a) and 130 (b) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).
The accused persons were – Olowosile Eunice, Ajayi Modupe, Ayodele Omolara, Suliat Habib, Udoh Anthony, Oyebola Kemi, Roseline Tunde, Odunayo Toyin and Babalola Esther.
Falade said the accused persons and others at large committed the offence on July 13 at Ojaoba shopping complex in Ado-Ekiti.
He alleged that Olowosile corruptly offered money to other accused persons to unduly influence them to vote for her political party during the election.
Falade also alleged that Ajayi and other accused persons accepted money from Olowosile to vote during the election.
The prosecutor asked the court for adjournment to enable him study the case file and assemble his witnesses.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge and their lawyer, Mr. Chris Omokhafe, urged the court to grant them bail, promising that they would not jump bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Adesoji Adegboye, granted each defendant bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety each in like sum.
He adjourned the case till August 9 for hearing.
