Police arraign Adebutu, others for alleged money laundering

A member representing Abeokuta North State Constituency, Dr Babatunde Tella and five other lawmakers, yesterday, moved motions to suspend the former Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, for 14 legislative days.

Tella, who is also the Deputy Chief Whip, in his motion, said: “The House note with serious concern and dismay the unwholesome attitude of Olakunle Oluomo, which is detrimental to the physical, mental and moral well-being of the House and how this attitude is putting the image of the Assembly in a bad light and disrepute.

“Consequently, having been deemed guilty of the above, I, therefore, in consonance with Order x Rule 71 (4), move that Olakunle Oluomo be suspended from the activity of this House for 14 legislative days.”

Other lawmakers, who spoke in support of the motion, including the Minority Leader, Lukman Adeleye; Adegoke Adeyanju, Oluseun Adesanya and WaliuOwode, said that the former Speaker’s activities were in violation of the rules and regulations of the House.

But ruling on the motion after it was debated by all other co-sponsors, the Speaker, Oludaisi Elemide pleaded with his colleague-lawmakers to consider the state and the efforts of the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration, in conjunction with the legislature, in turning around the state for better.

He said that such efforts could only yield the desired results for the advancement of the state when there is peace and tranquility in all spheres of governance, hence the need to suspend action on the matter.

The Speaker said that although Oluomo had violated the regulations of the House, the current leadership would be magnanimous in always upholding the sanity of the institution being the symbol of democracy.

The Assembly later observed a minute silence in honour of the late Jimi Solanke, who passed away as reported by a member representing Remo North State Constituency, Dickson Awolaja.

IN another development, the police have arraigned the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Oladipupo Adebutu, before an Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital, over an alleged money laundering.

Adebutu was arraigned on seven-count charges bordering on money laundering and other offences, yesterday, February 6, 2024. The prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, in his submission, withdrew the prior information supplied and substituted the same with amended information, without any objection from the lead counsel for the defendants, Gordy Uche.

While all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charges preferred against them, Uche pleaded with the court to allow the second to fifth and 10th defendants to continue to enjoy bail on earlier terms. He then prayed the court to grant the first defendant, Adebutu, bail on self-recognisance, saying he came to the court on his own volition.

However, his prayer was opposed by the prosecuting counsel, noting that while he had no objection to the prayer for bail, he disagreed with the self-recognisance clause.

The presiding judge, Abiodun Akinyemi, therefore, granted Adebutu bail in the sum of N1 million with a surety in the like sum who may be a family member or bondsman. Justice Akinyemi adjourned the case till today, February 7, 2024, for hearing.