Wahab Hameed, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State chapter was on Wednesday remanded for alleged conspiracy and vote buying in the 2023 Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
Hameed was remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by Justice Ismail Ijelu of an Ikeja High Court.
The accused, who is in court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and bribery, pleaded guilty to EFCC’s charge.
When the accusations were read to the defendant, he told the court that he couldn’t speak or understand English and requested that the allegations be read aloud to him in Yoruba.
The EFCC prosecutor Samuel Daji told the court that on Feb. 25, the defendant planned with one Segun Ijitola, who is now at large, to pay voters during the 2023 presidential and national assembly elections.
Daji stated that the defendant committed the crime at Unit 28, Gbaja Girls Junior High School in Surulere.
According to the prosecutor, on the specified date, the defendant and his accomplice bribed voters at Unit 28.
Mr Olabiyi Ademola, the defence counsel, agreed to the adjournment of the case to December 7 and asked the court to keep his client in the custody of the EFCC.
The judge adjourned the trial until December 7 for a review of the facts and judgment.
Similarly, a Kaduna High Court on Wednesday ordered the remand of two men, Abubakar Zubairu, 26, and Hamza Bala, 28, in a Correctional Facility for allegedly causing the death of one Illiyasu Audu by hitting him on the head with sticks.
The defendants, who live at Badiko in Kaduna, were charged with criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide, to which they pleaded not guilty.
Justice Amina Bello adjourned the case until Jan. 18, 2024, for ruling on the bail application made by the defence counsel, Jibrin Haliru and ordered the remand of the defendants.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Precious David, had told the court that the defendants and one Umar Dogo, now at large, on Nov. 11 attacked the deceased in his house at Tudun Wada, Kaduna.
David alleged that the defendants used cutlasses and sticks to inflict injuries on the victim’s head and other parts of his body.
“The victim was rushed to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital Kaduna, where he was confirmed dead,’’ he said.
David alleged that the defendants also attempted to kill one Sani Rabiu by stabbing him with a knife in his stomach when he came to the rescue of the deceased.
The defendants, however, denied committing the offences.
According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene Sections 97 and 221 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State.