By OLAJIDE IDOWU

Police in Osun have arrested the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Teslim Igbalaye, and five others following a raid on his house in Osogbo.

DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, the spokesperson for the police command in the state, made this known in a statement on Wednesday.

“Acting on credible and actionable intelligence that some criminal gang were hibernating around Oroki Estate Area, Osogbo, operatives of the command carried out a lawful operation within the environs.

“A suspect, popularly known as “Ashipa” who has been on the police watch-list in connection with serious criminal offences, including murder and others, was arrested at a residential property.

“The property is linked to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Osun.

“During the operation, officers recovered exhibits comprising the cash sum of N4.8 million, one Dynabook laptop, one photocopy machine, one printer, two voter cards and voter register for ward 1-15,” he said.

Ojelabi said that the exhibits were currently in police custody for detailed forensic examination and further investigation.

He said in the course of the operation, Teslim and five others found within the premises, were taken into lawful custody.

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

He said the suspects would be investigated for alleged “bribery of voters (vote buying), contrary to Section 121 of the Electoral Act, 2022 – arising from the alleged distribution of money or other inducements to registered voters for the purpose of influencing their voting decisions.

“Criminal Conspiracy, harbouring or concealing a wanted criminal, and any other offences that may be disclosed upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.”

He said investigations were being intensified to identify all persons connected with the recovered exhibits, to establish the source and intended use of the recovered funds, and determine the full extent of any criminal enterprise.

He said that anybody found culpable at the conclusion of investigations would be prosecuted in accordance with the law. (NAN)

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