Police arrest Osun SSG, others over alleged vote buying

The Osun State Police Command has arrested the Secretary to the Osun State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, and five other people over alleged vote buying in Osogbo.

The arrest was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday, July 29, by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan.

According to the police, officers acted on credible intelligence about a group allegedly operating around the Oroki Estate area of Osogbo.  The command confirmed the arrest of Teslim Igbalaye, 57, alongside Akande Taiwo, 60, Oladele Abiodun, 38, Adeyemo Lukman, 45, Olaoye Muftau, 50, and Aderemi Musliu, 40.

The statement said the operation focused on a house linked to the SSG while officers searched for a wanted suspect, Abiodun Arowomole, also known as “Ashipa”, who is on the police watch list over alleged crimes, including murder.

The police said during the operation, officers recovered N4,810,500 in cash, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine, a printer, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), and a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15.

The command said all the recovered items have been taken for forensic examination and further investigation.

It said investigators are looking into possible violations of the Electoral Act 2022, including alleged voter bribery through the distribution of money or other inducements to influence voters.

The police said they are also investigating possible criminal conspiracy and whether anyone at the property helped to hide a wanted suspect.

The command said more charges could be added depending on the outcome of the investigation and forensic analysis.