Osun police arrest SSG, five others as N4.8m, voter register, PVCs recovered in alleged vote-buying investigation
Operatives of the Osun State Police Command has arrested the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, alongside five other individuals during an operation linked to an alleged vote-buying investigation 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, the operation followed credible intelligence on suspected criminal activities around Oroki Estate, Osogbo. Police operatives reportedly stormed a residence associated with the SSG while searching for a wanted suspect, Abiodun Arowomole, also known as "Ashipa," who is on the Command's watch list over alleged involvement in serious offences, including murder.
During the search, officers recovered N4,810,500 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 recovered items have been taken into police custody for forensic examination.
The police also arrested Akande Taiwo, 60; Oladele Abiodun, 38; Adeyemo Lukman, 45; Olaoye Muftau, 50; and Aderemi Musliu, 40, who were reportedly found at the premises alongside the 57-year-old SSG.
Investigators said the recovered cash and electoral materials have heightened suspicions of possible electoral offences, including alleged vote-buying, criminal conspiracy and harbouring a wanted suspect. They added that further charges may be filed as investigations progress.
Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan assured residents that the Command would conduct a thorough investigation into the source and intended use of the recovered money, stressing that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
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