Jelili Gbadamosi
The Osun State Police Command says it has recovered ₦4.81 million, electoral materials and other exhibits as it intensifies investigations into alleged vote buying and other electoral offences ahead of the state’s governorship election.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, the command said the exhibits were recovered during an intelligence-led operation at a residential property in the Oroki Estate area of Osogbo.
According to the police, the operation was launched in search of a wanted suspect, Abiodun Arowomole, popularly known as “Ashipa”, who is on the police watch list over alleged involvement in serious offences, including murder.
During the raid, officers recovered ₦4,810,500 in cash, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopying machine, a printer, two Permanent Voter Cards and a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15.
The command said the operation also led to the arrest of the Secretary to the Osun State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, alongside five others identified as Akande Taiwo, Oladele Abiodun, Adeyemo Lukman, Olaoye Muftau and Aderemi Musliu, who were found on the premises.
Police said the recovery of the cash and voter register had raised suspicions of possible electoral offences, including vote buying, criminal conspiracy and the alleged harbouring of a wanted suspect.
The command added that all recovered items had been secured for forensic examination, while investigations had been expanded to determine the source and intended use of the funds, identify all persons connected to the exhibits and establish whether additional offences had been committed.
CP Gotan assured residents that the investigation would be conducted professionally and without bias, stressing that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the Constitution and other applicable laws.
