Osun Poll: Gov. Adeleke Raises Alarm as Police Arrest SSG, Five Others
…Police recover ₦4.81m, PVCs, voter register during raid
Tension heightened in Osun State on Wednesday ahead of the governorship election following the arrest of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Hon. Teslim Igbalaye, and five other persons by the Nigeria Police Force.
The arrests have triggered a fresh war of words between the Osun State Government and the police, with Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration accusing security operatives of targeting opposition figures, an allegation the police denied.
According to the Osun State Police Command, the suspects were arrested during a raid on the residence of the SSG in Osogbo following credible intelligence on the presence of suspected criminal elements at the location.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said officers recovered ₦4,810,500, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine and a printer during the operation.
The police identified those arrested as the SSG, Hon. Teslim Igbalaye, Akande Taiwo, 60; Oladele Abiodun, 38; Adeyemo Lukman, 45; Olaoye Muftau, 50; and Aderemi Musliu, 40.
According to the command, the recovery of the cash and electoral materials raises concerns over possible electoral offences, including alleged vote buying, criminal conspiracy and harbouring a wanted suspect.
”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, adding that investigations are ongoing to determine the source and intended use of the recovered funds.
The command maintained that no individual, regardless of political affiliation or public office, is above the law and assured residents that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Reacting to the development, the Osun State Government accused the police of conducting illegal raids on the residences of top government officials without obtaining search warrants.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government alleged that the SSG’s residence was invaded by a combined team of police officers while ward officials were holding a meeting within the premises.
According to Alimi, the SSG was attending an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ forum at the time of the operation.
The commissioner further alleged that police had similarly raided the homes of several commissioners and other government officials in recent days, describing the actions as politically motivated.
”These raids on the SSG and our commissioners are an aggravated assault on the government and people of Osun State,” Alimi said, calling on the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser and President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
Also reacting, the Adeleke Campaign Organisation demanded the immediate release of its supporters allegedly arrested by security operatives across the state.
Speaking after a visit to the Force Intelligence Response Team headquarters in Abuja, the campaign’s spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, alleged that more than 80 party supporters had been arrested without lawful justification, describing the development as an attempt to intimidate the opposition ahead of the election.
Olajengbesi further claimed that some of the detainees had been transferred to correctional facilities in Keffi and Kuje despite not being formally charged with any offence.
He also called for the redeployment of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, alleging that his continued presence could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
However, the police dismissed the allegations, insisting that only six suspects were arrested based on credible intelligence.
Responding to the claims, DSP Ojelabi said all those arrested were adults and denied allegations that police invaded the residences of commissioners.
”Just six persons were arrested, not 86. They were apprehended during an intelligence-led operation at the residence of the Secretary to the State Government,” he said.
The police reiterated their commitment to conducting a professional investigation and urged residents to remain peaceful while security agencies continue efforts to ensure a free, fair and credible governorship election in Osun State.
