The Osun State Police Command has arrested the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, and five other suspects over alleged vote-buying and related electoral offences following an intelligence-led operation in Osogbo.
The arrests were confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan.
According to the statement, operatives acted on credible intelligence indicating that a suspected criminal network was operating from the Oroki Estate area of Osogbo.
Police said the operation focused on a residential property linked to the SSG while officers searched for Abiodun Arowomole, popularly known as “Ashipa,” a suspect on the police watch list over alleged involvement in serious offences, including murder.
During the operation, officers recovered ₦4,810,500 in cash, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine, a printer, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and a voter register containing details of Wards 1 to 15.
The command said all the recovered items had been secured for forensic examination as part of ongoing investigations.
Those arrested include Teslim Igbalaye, 47; Akande Taiwo, 60; Oladele Abiodun, 38; Adeyemo Lukman, 45; Olaoye Muftau, 50; and Aderemi Musliu, 40. Police said the suspects were found within the premises during the operation and have been taken into lawful custody.
Investigators said the recovery of cash and electoral materials had raised concerns over possible violations of the Electoral Act 2022, including allegations of voter inducement through the distribution of money to influence voting.
The police also disclosed that investigators were examining possible offences bordering on criminal conspiracy and the alleged harbouring or concealment of a wanted suspect, adding that further charges could arise as investigations progress.
Describing the allegations as serious, the command said they carry significant implications for public security, the administration of justice and the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process.
Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan assured residents that the investigation would be thorough and impartial, stressing that the command would identify all individuals connected with the recovered exhibits, determine the source and intended use of the funds, and establish the full extent of any alleged criminal enterprise.
He reaffirmed that the Nigeria Police Force would enforce the law without fear or favour, maintaining that anyone found culpable at the conclusion of investigations would be prosecuted in accordance with the Constitution and other applicable laws.
Credit: Daily Post except headline
