Post by Ibadan Watch (@Ibadanwatch)
Police Arrest Osun SSG, 5 Others Over Alleged Electoral Offences.
The Osun State Police Command has arrested the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, and five other individuals following a raid on a property linked to the govt official in Osogbo. Police said the operation was based on intelligence indicating that suspected members of a criminal gang were hiding within the Oroki Estate area of the state capital.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, one of those arrested was Oladele Abiodun, popularly known as "Ashipa," who is on the police watchlist over alleged involvement in serious crimes, including murder. The other suspects taken into custody are Akande Taiwo, Adeyemo Lukman, Olaoye Muftau and Aderemi Musliu.
During the operation, officers recovered ₦4.81 million in cash, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine, a printer, two voter cards & a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15. The police said all recovered items had been secured for forensic examination as investigations continue.
The command said the discovery of the cash & voter register raised concerns about possible electoral offences, including vote-buying under Section 121 of the Electoral Act 2022, criminal conspiracy and the alleged harbouring of a wanted suspect. Investigators are also examining the source and intended use of the recovered funds, as well as any additional offences that may emerge during the investigation.
Police maintained that the operation was intelligence-driven and stressed that no individual is above the law, regardless of political office or affiliation. The command assured the public that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law while urging residents to remain peaceful and cooperate with ongoing investigations.
Meanwhile, the Accord Party condemned the arrests, describing them as politically motivated and intended to intimidate opposition figures ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election. Speaking in Abuja, the spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, alleged that more than 86 Accord Party members, including candidates and government officials, had been arrested without justification and called for the immediate redeployment of the Osun State Commissioner of Police.
Olajengbesi argued that the arrests could undermine public confidence in the electoral process, insisting that those detained had committed no offence. He specifically described the arrest of the Osun SSG as unjustified, claiming the official was merely engaging in voter sensitisation activities.
The police, however, rejected the allegations, insisting that the operation was carried out in line with their constitutional responsibility to investigate suspected criminal activities without fear or favour. The command reiterated its commitment to ensuring public safety and protecting the integrity of the electoral process as preparations continue for the governorship election.
0 likes · 0 comments · 0 shares