The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State in the last general election, Ladi Adebutu, yesterday reported at the police headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, following invitation by the police in connection with alleged vote-buying and money laundering during the March 18, 2023 governorship poll.
Adebutu was said to have met with the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, around 11am in company with some chieftains of Ogun PDP.
The former federal lawmaker returned to the country a few days ago after over six months of sojourn abroad for what he revealed earlier as medical vacation.
Ogun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has hailed the PDP governorship candidate for heeding its call to turn himself in to the police over the allegations of money laundering and vote-buying levelled against him and some members of his party by the Federal Government.
The APC had in a statement issued on Tuesday welcomed Adebutu back to the country and urged him to toe the path of honour by honouring the police invitation, “which he has evaded since April on the pretext of embarking on medical vacation abroad.”
“While it is commendable that Mr. Adebutu has finally honoured the police invitation, after eight months, to ward off any unpleasant consequences that his non-attendance would have caused him, we wish to urge the police authorities to use this case to serve as a deterrent to desperate politicians and prove to all that no one is above the law and that truly the law is no respecter of persons,” the party said.
APC advised that the politician should take a step further by accepting court papers, which bailiffs have been unable to serve on him since April 2022.
“Adebutu should take a step further to accept the court papers containing charges against him, so that he can enjoy his fundamental right to fair hearing,” the statement said.
“The police must investigate the allegations to the fullest, as even the PDP had publicly acknowledged in a statement dated December 9, 2023 that “Mr. Adebutu has been linked with the alleged offences of money laundering and vote-buying.”