Police detain Osun SSG, five others as ₦4.8m, voter cards are recovered

Police detain Osun SSG, five others as ₦4.8m, voter cards are recovered

The Osun State Police Command has detained the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, alongside five other persons following a police operation at his residence in Osogbo.

Police said the operation was based on intelligence indicating that suspected members of a criminal gang were allegedly hiding at the property.

During the raid, officers reportedly recovered ₦4,810,500 in cash, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine and a printer.

The police said the recovered items had been secured and placed in custody for forensic examination and further investigation.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, the command identified the other persons arrested as Akande Taiwo, Oladele Abiodun, Adeyemo Lukman, Olaoye Muftau and Aderemi Musliu.

According to the police, one of the suspects, Oladele Abiodun, was already on its watchlist in connection with alleged criminal activities.

The command said the recovery of the cash and voter-related materials raised concerns about possible electoral offences, including alleged vote-buying, as political activities intensify ahead of the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election.

Police said preliminary findings provided grounds to investigate possible offences under the Electoral Act 2022, including alleged vote-buying, criminal conspiracy and harbouring or concealing a wanted suspect.

The command added that investigators were working to determine the source and intended use of the recovered money, identify all persons connected to the items and establish whether a wider criminal network was involved.

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“The recovery of the cash and the register containing voters’ details raises serious concerns regarding possible electoral offences and other criminal activities,” the police said.

The command stressed that the investigation was ongoing and that no individual would be treated as above the law because of political affiliation, social status or public office.

It added that anyone found culpable after the investigation would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

However, the Osun State Government criticised the operation and accused the police of invading the residence of the SSG without obtaining a valid search warrant.

In a statement signed 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 in charge of Operations, forced its way into the residence and arrested people present at the property.

The government also alleged that the operation was part of coordinated raids and increased police surveillance targeting senior officials in the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

According to the state government, Igbalaye was attending an election stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) when the police operation took place.

The government further claimed that ward officials were holding a meeting within the premises at the time of the raid.

The Osun government described the operation as politically motivated and called on the police to act professionally and impartially as the state approaches the governorship election.

The police, however, maintained that the operation was intelligence-led and linked to an ongoing criminal investigation.

In a subsequent update, the police said those arrested would be screened and that anyone found not to be connected to the investigation would be released.

The incident has heightened political tension in Osun State, where parties have intensified mobilisation ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed confidence that it will regain control of the state, while supporters of Governor Adeleke have maintained that the outcome of the election will be decided by voters.

As of the time of filing this report, the police had not announced the conclusion of the investigation or disclosed whether any of the detained persons would be formally charged.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Police detain Osun SSG, five others as ₦4.8m, voter cards are recovered