Osun: Ex AA chairman, 2 others arraigned over fraud
Abimbola Abatta, Osogbo
The former National Chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), Mr Kenneth Udeze was on Tuesday re-arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court over alleged electoral fraud, forgery.
Also arraigned alongside Udeze were former National Secretary of the party, Mr James Vernibe and one Ogunmodede Oluwagbemi.
The trio were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and forgery.
The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
The embattled former National Chairman of AA had earlier been remanded at Ilesa prison custody after he was arraigned before the court.
Udeze who was recently expelled by the leadership of the party was arrested by operatives of Zone 11 of the Nigerian Police Force headquarters in Osogbo.
The former AA national chairman was alleged to have replaced the name of the duly elected governorship candidate of the party in Osun State with another person during the 2018 governorship election held in the state.
Magistrate Adebola Ajanaku who presided over the case, on Tuesday, granted Udeze and other accused persons provisional bail.
The Magistrate also ruled that all the sureties standing in for the accused persons should appear in court on May 25, 2021 being the next adjourning date.
According to the charge sheet read in court, Udeze and other accused persons had in July 2018 conspired to commit felony and fraud, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the criminal code, Laws of Osun State.
Also, Udeze was alleged to have fraudulently altered the documents of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and presented the same as the original.
The offence was said to be contrary to the provisions of section 468 and punishable under section 469 of the criminal code, Laws of Osun State.
However, counsel to the accused persons, Mr M O Olaniyan prayed the court to allow his clients to enjoy the bail already granted them by the court.
Although the Police Prosecutor, Mr Olufemi Olanipekun opposed the bail application, the court held that the accused persons be allowed to enjoy the bail already granted them.
