BREAKING: Police Arrest Osun SSG, Five Others, Recover ₦4.8m, PVCs, Voter Register

• The Osun State Police Command has arrested Secretary to the State Government Teslim Igbalaye and five others after raiding his residence, recovering ₦4.81 million, PVCs, a voter register and other items as investigations into alleged electoral offences continue.

The Osun State Police Command has arrested and detained the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, along with five others following a raid on his residence in Osogbo.

According to the command, the operation was carried out based on intelligence that members of a suspected criminal gang were hiding at the location.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, the police said one of those arrested at the residence, Oladele Abiodun, was on its watchlist over alleged criminal offences.

Others arrested include Akande Taiwo, 60; Adeyemo Lukman, 45; Olaoye Muftau, 50; and Aderemi Musliu, 40.

The police said officers recovered ₦4,810,500 in cash, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a voter register covering Wards 1–15, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopier and a printer during the operation.

According to the command, the recovered items have been secured for forensic examination as investigations continue.

The police said the cash and electoral materials recovered raise concerns over possible electoral offences, including vote-buying under the Electoral Act 2022, criminal conspiracy, harbouring a wanted suspect and other offences that may emerge during the investigation.

The command said investigations are ongoing to determine the source and intended use of the recovered funds, identify everyone connected to the exhibits and uncover the full extent of any alleged criminal activities.

It stressed that no individual, regardless of political office or social status, is above the law and assured that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Government has accused the police of invading the SSG’s residence without a search warrant.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the state government alleged that a combined team of police officers led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) stormed the residence and arrested everyone found on the premises.