Police detain Osun SSG, recover cash during raid

The Osun State Police Command has detained Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, along with five other suspects following a raid on his residence in Osogbo over alleged criminal activities.

Police spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi said the operation was carried out after intelligence reports indicated that members of a suspected criminal gang were hiding at the property.

According to the command, officers arrested Igbalaye alongside Akande Taiwo, Oladele Abiodun, Adeyemo Lukman, Olaoye Muftau and Aderemi Musliu.

The police said Oladele Abiodun was already on its watchlist in connection with alleged criminal offences.

Items recovered during the operation included ₦4.81 million in cash, a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15, two Permanent Voter Cards, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopier and a printer.

The command said the exhibits had been taken into custody for forensic examination as investigators seek to determine their origin and intended use.

Police said the discoveries raised suspicions of possible electoral offences, including alleged vote-buying under the Electoral Act 2022, criminal conspiracy, harbouring a wanted suspect and other offences that may emerge during the investigation.

According to the command, investigators are working to identify all persons connected to the recovered materials, trace the source of the cash and establish whether the items were linked to any criminal enterprise.

The police stressed that no individual is above the law, regardless of political office or status, adding that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted after investigations are concluded.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Government has condemned the operation, accusing the police of unlawfully invading the residence of the Secretary to the State Government without first obtaining a search warrant.

In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government alleged that the operation was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations and resulted in the arrest of individuals found at the residence.

The state government questioned the legality of the raid, while police investigations into the recovered items and the suspects remain ongoing.