The Osun State Police Command has arrested and detained the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, alongside five other suspects following a raid on his residence in Osogbo, where officers reportedly recovered cash, voter registers and other items linked to alleged electoral offences.
The arrest, which comes weeks before the August 15 governorship election in the state, has heightened political tension, with the Osun State Government accusing the police of invading the SSG’s residence without a search warrant.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Abiodun Ojelabi, said the operation was based on credible intelligence indicating that members of a criminal gang were hiding at the premises.
According to him, one of those arrested at the residence, Oladele Abiodun, was on the police watchlist over alleged criminal activities.
Others arrested include Akande Taiwo, Adeyemo Lukman, Olaoye Muftau and Aderemi Musliu.
The police said the operation led to the recovery of ₦4,810,500, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopier and a printer.
According to the command, the recovered items have been taken into custody for forensic examination as investigations continue.
The police said the exhibits raised concerns over possible electoral offences, including alleged vote-buying, criminal conspiracy and harbouring a wanted suspect.
“The recovery of the cash and the register containing voters’ details raises serious concerns regarding possible electoral offences and other criminal activities,” the statement read.
The command added that investigators were working to establish the source and intended use of the recovered money and determine whether other persons were connected to the alleged offences.
It stressed that no individual, regardless of political status or public office, was above the law and assured that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted.
“Investigations are being intensified to identify all persons connected with the recovered exhibits, establish the source and intended use of the recovered funds, and determine the full extent of any criminal enterprise,” the police said.
However, the Osun State Government condemned the operation, accusing the police of unlawfully invading the SSG’s residence.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the state government alleged that the police carried out the operation without obtaining a search warrant.
Alimi also claimed that a combined team of police officers led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations forcefully entered the residence and arrested those found on the premises.
The incident has further heightened political tension in Osun State ahead of the governorship election scheduled for August 15, with investigations by the police still ongoing.
