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The Osun State Police Command has arrested the Secretary to the Osun State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, and five others following a raid linked to alleged vote-buying and electoral offences in Osogbo.
The operation, carried out on Wednesday, was announced by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan. According to the statement, the action was based on credible intelligence about a criminal gang operating around the Oroki Estate area of the state capital.
Officers said the raid targeted a residential property linked to the SSG while searching for a man identified as Abiodun Arowomole, popularly known as ‘Ashipa’. The police described Ashipa as a suspect on their watch list for serious offences, including murder.
During the search, police recovered a cash sum of N4,810,500, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine, a printer, two Permanent Voter Cards and a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15. The command said all the items have been secured for forensic examination and further investigation.
Besides Igbalaye, 47, those arrested are Akande Taiwo, 60, Oladele Abiodun, 38, Adeyemo Lukman, 45, Olaoye Muftau, 50, and Aderemi Musliu, 40. The police said the six were found within the premises during the operation and were taken into lawful custody.
The recovery of large sums of cash alongside a voter register has raised concerns about possible breaches of the Electoral Act 2022. Investigators are looking into allegations of bribery of voters through the distribution of money or inducements intended to influence voting decisions.
The police added that other angles being examined include criminal conspiracy and the possible harbouring or concealment of a wanted suspect. They noted that additional charges could emerge as forensic results come in and more evidence is gathered.
CP Gotan assured residents that the investigation will be thorough and impartial. “No individual, irrespective of social status, political affiliation or public office, is above the law. Any person found culpable at the conclusion of investigations will be prosecuted in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all applicable laws,” he said.
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