FG charges fleeing Adebutu, Zenith Bank MD, others with vote-buying, money laundering

Oladipupo Adebutu, a Peoples Democratic Party candidate for governor in Ogun State in the 2023 election, has been accused by the federal government of money laundering and vote-buying.

Zenith Bank, its managing director, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, and the bank's head of card services, Celestina Appeal, were also sued by the government in front of the Federal High Court in Abeokuta for allegedly helping Adebutu conduct the claimed crime.

Adebutu, according to a report by Punch Newspaper, was charged by the government with vote-buying during the state's March 18 governorship election on the charge sheet with the case number AB/10c/2023.

Adebutu, who was the PDP governorship candidate, contested against incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress.

Nine additional PDP members were named as co-defendants by the Attorney General of the Federation's office, which also brought the accusations against Adebutu.

They are Sanni Adejoke, Ogunbona Hammed, Tiamiyu Waliu, and Egunsola Owolabi.

There are also Malik Akawo, Dare Ogunleye, Dare Adeoye, Dayo Fashina, and Wasiu Enololobo.

In the charge sheet, the FG said Adebutu was at large.

Adebutu, alleging a threat to his life, had shortly after the election reportedly travelled out of the country.

The governorship candidate and Adegoke were charged with three counts of criminal conspiracy, bribery and undue influence, while the eight others were charged with vote-buying and conspiracy.

The prosecution listed eight witnesses, who include a police officer, three officials of the NDLEA and two Points of Sale operators, against Adebutu and others.

One of the charges read: “That you Oladipupo Adebuti (now at large), adult male of Kessington House, Iperu, Ogun State between February and March, 2023 at Ogun State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did provide 200,000 prepaid verve cards loaded with N10,000, which had inscribed on them ‘Dame Caroline Oladuni Adebutu Memorial Endorsement Scheme for less privileged’  for the purpose of corruptly influencing votes to vote for PDP candidates (including yourself) during the governorship and state Assembly elections in Ogun State and you thereby committed an offence.”

In another suit filed before the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, the prosecution accused  Zenith Bank, its Managing Director, Onyeagwu, and the head of card services at the bank, Appeal, of aiding Adebutu to commit the alleged crime.

The government alleged: “That you (Mr Onyeagwu and Ms Appeal) between February 2023 to March 2023 in Ogun State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did fail to report dust transactions which appeared to have no economic justification or lawful objective, in the account of Oladipupo  Adebutu domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 7(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 7 (10) of the same Act.”