A Federal High Court in Abuja has declared that it is unlawful and unconstitutional for the office Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice to prosecute anyone for election-related offences.
Presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo said this in a judgment on a suit filed by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State during the 2023 general election, Oladipupo Adebutu, and nine others.
The other plaintiffs are Ogunbona Hameed, Tiamiyu Waliu, Egunsola Owolabi, Sanni Adegoke, Dare Ogunleye, Dare Adeoye, Dayo Fashina, Wasiu Enilolobo and Malik Akawo.
The plaintiffs had in the suit alleged that the the Office of the AGF which was prosecuting them over the allegation of vote-buying during the last governorship election, was only doing so to intimidate Adebutu who was challenging the outcome of the poll. l.
They contended that the issues of vote-buying and related electoral malpractices were pending before the election tribunal and so the the Office the AGF erred by charging them to the Ogun State High Court on the same allegation of vote-buying.
