BREAKING : Police Arrest Osun SSG, Others Over Alleged Vote Buying, Recover ₦4.81m, PVCs

The Osun State Police Command has arrested the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, alongside five other suspects over alleged vote buying and other suspected electoral offences following a raid on his residence in Osogbo.

The command said one of those arrested, Oladele Abiodun, was already on its watchlist for alleged criminal activities.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the operation was carried out after the command received intelligence that suspected members of a criminal gang were hiding at the location.

According to him, officers conducted a lawful raid that led to the arrest of Igbalaye, Akande Taiwo, 60; Oladele Abiodun, 38; Adeyemo Lukman, 45; Olaoye Muftau, 50; and Aderemi Musliu, 40.

The police also recovered ₦4,810,500 in cash, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine and a printer.

Ojelabi said the recovered items have been secured for forensic examination while investigations continue.

According to the command, the discovery of the cash and voter register raises serious concerns over possible violations of the Electoral Act 2022, including alleged voter bribery, criminal conspiracy and harbouring a wanted suspect.

The police said investigators are working to determine the source and intended use of the recovered money, identify everyone connected to the exhibits and establish the full extent of the alleged criminal activities.

The command stressed that no individual, regardless of political affiliation, public office or social status, is above the law, assuring that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the Constitution.

It urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding and continue providing credible information that could assist efforts to ensure peaceful, free and credible elections in the state.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Government condemned the operation, accusing the police of invading the SSG’s residence without obtaining a search warrant.

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government alleged that a combined team of police officers led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations carried out the raid and arrested those found at the premises.

The police have, however, maintained that the operation was intelligence-driven and forms part of ongoing efforts to investigate alleged electoral offences and other criminal activities ahead of future elections.