Ekiti governorship poll: Police arraign 10 for vote-buying

The police on Friday arraigned tens persons before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court for their alleged involvement in vote- buying during last Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

Police prosecutor Femi Fa³ade to³d the court that they allegedly offered money to voters to induce them to vote for their parties at the poll.

Falade said the offence contravened Section 130 (a) and 130 (b) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

The accused persons are Olowosile Eunice, Ajayi Modupe, Ayodele Omolara, Suliat Habib, Udoh Anthony, Oyebola Kemi, Roseline Tunde, Odunayo Toyin and Babalola Esther.

Falade said that the accused persons and others at large, whose addresses were not disclosed in court ýcommitted the offence on July 13 at Ojaoba shopping complex in Ado-Ekiti.

He alleged that Olowosile Eunice, did corruptly offered money to other accused persons to unduly influence them to vote for her political party during the July 14, governorship election in Ekiti State.

He also alleged that, Ajayi Modupe and other accused persons, being voters, did corruptly accept money from Olowosile Eunice to vote at the Ekiti State Governorship Election held on July 14, 2018.

The prosecutor asked the court for an adjournment to enable him study the case file and assemble his witnesses.

The defendants pleaded not guilty.

The defence counsel,  Mr Chris Omokhafe,  ýurged the court to grant the defendants bail, promising that they would not jump bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Adesoji Adegboye, in his ruling granted the defendants bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety each in like sum.

The case was adjourned till August 9 for hearing.