Osun State Police Command has arrested and detained the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, alongside five others following a raid on his residence in Osogbo.
Gatekeepers News reports that Police spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the operation was carried out based on intelligence that members of a criminal gang were hiding at the location. He added that one of those arrested, Oladele Abiodun, was on the police watchlist over alleged criminal offences.
According to the police, those arrested with the SSG are Akande Taiwo, Adeyemo Lukman, Olaoye Muftau and Aderemi Musliu. During the operation, officers reportedly recovered ₦4,810,500 in cash, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopier and a printer.
Ojelabi said the recovered items had been taken into police custody for forensic examination, noting that the cash and voter register raised concerns about possible electoral offences and other criminal activities.
The police said investigators are probing allegations of vote-buying under Section 121 of the Electoral Act 2022, criminal conspiracy, harbouring a wanted suspect and any other offences that may emerge during the investigation.
The command added that investigations would focus on identifying everyone connected to the recovered exhibits, tracing the source and intended use of the money and determining whether any criminal network was involved.
It stressed that no individual, regardless of political affiliation or public office, is above the law and assured that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the Constitution.
Meanwhile, before the police disclosed the reasons for the arrests, the Osun State Government accused the command of invading Igbalaye’s residence without a search warrant.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government described the operation as unlawful and raised concerns over the conduct of the officers.
