Operatives of the Osun State Police Command detained Secretary to the State Government Teslim Igbalaye and five others on Wednesday. The officers carried out a raid at a residential property linked to Igbalaye in Oroki Estate, Osogbo.
Police Public Relations Officer Abiodun Ojelabi issued a statement on the operation. He said the team acted on credible intelligence that a criminal gang was present in the area.
Officers arrested suspected gang leader Abiodun Arowomole, popularly known as Ashipa. Arowomole had remained on the command’s watch list for alleged murder and other offences.
The police also detained Teslim Igbalaye, aged 47; Akande Taiwo, aged 60; Oladele Abiodun, aged 38; Adeyemo Lukman, aged 45; Olaoye Muftau, aged 50; and Aderemi Musliu, aged 40. All six were found on the premises during the raid.
Meanwhile, the team recovered N4,810,500 in cash. They also seized one Dynabook laptop, one photocopy machine, one printer, two Permanent Voter Cards and a voter register covering wards 1 to 15. The exhibits went into police custody for forensic examination and further investigation.
Ojelabi stated that the recovery of the large cash sum and voters’ details raised serious concerns of possible electoral offences. Preliminary findings pointed to suspected offences including vote buying contrary to Section 121 of the Electoral Act 2022, criminal conspiracy and harbouring a wanted criminal.
He added, “The Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its constitutional responsibility to enforce the law without fear or favour.” The suspects remained in lawful custody as investigations continued.
