The Osun State Police Command has arrested the Secretary to the Osun State Government, SSG, Teslim Igbalaye, and five other persons over the alleged possession of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, ₦4,810,500 in cash, a laptop, a voters’ register and other items suspected to be linked to electoral offences.
The command said the arrests followed a lawful operation by its operatives after receiving actionable intelligence that a criminal gang was hiding around the Oroki Estate area of Osogbo.
In a statement issued on Wednesday in Osogbo by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, the command disclosed that one of the suspects, Abiodun Arowomole, popularly known as “Ashipa,” had been on its watchlist for alleged involvement in serious criminal offences, including murder.
According to the police, Arowomole was traced to a residential property linked to the SSG, where Igbalaye and five others were subsequently arrested.
The police said the recovery of ₦4,810,500 in cash alongside a register containing voters’ details raised suspicions of possible vote buying, an offence under Section 121 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The command added that investigations have been expanded to cover allegations of criminal conspiracy and harbouring a wanted criminal.
Items recovered from the premises include a cash sum of ₦4,810,500, one Dynabook laptop, one photocopy machine, one printer, two PVCs, and a voters’ register covering Wards 1 to 15.
The police said investigations are ongoing and assured that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
