On Wednesday, the Ikeja Division of the Lagos High Court remanded an alleged APC member Wahab Hameed in EFCC custody over alleged conspiracy and vote-buying during the 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Justice Ismail Ijelu remanded the defendant after pleading guilty to a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and bribery preferred against him by the EFCC.

The judge adjourned the trial until December 7 for a review of facts and judgment.

The defendant told the court that he could neither speak nor understand English or pidgin, pleading that the charges should be read to him in Yoruba.

EFCC prosecutor Samuel Daji told the court that on February 25, the defendant conspired with another suspect, Segun Ijitola, now at large, to pay voters during the 2023 presidential and national assembly elections.

Mr Daji said the defendant, an alleged member of the All Progressives Congress, committed the offence at Unit 28, Gbaja Girls Junior High School, in Surulere.

The prosecutor said the defendant and his accomplice bribed voters at Unit 28.

He told the court that the offences contravened sections 121 (1) and (5) and 121 (1) and 1 (3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

Mr Daji added that since the defendant had pleaded guilty to the charges, the court should grant a short adjournment to enable EFCC to fine-tune the case facts for a review.

The defence counsel, Olabiyi Ademola, conceded a short adjournment until December 7 and prayed the court to remand the defendant in EFCC custody. 

(NAN)