The Osun State Police Command has detained the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, and five other persons following a raid on his residence in Osogbo over alleged criminal activities.
The police said one of those arrested during the operation, Oladele Abiodun, was on its watchlist for alleged criminal offences.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said officers acted on credible intelligence indicating that suspected members of a criminal gang were hiding at the residence.
According to him, the operation led to the recovery of N4.81 million, two Permanent Voter Cards, a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopier and a printer.
Others arrested alongside the SSG were identified as Akande Taiwo, Adeyemo Lukman, Olaoye Muftau and Aderemi Musliu.
Ojelabi said the recovered items had been taken into police custody for forensic examination, adding that investigators were probing possible electoral offences and other alleged criminal activities.
“The recovery of the cash and the register containing voters' details raises serious concerns regarding possible electoral offences and other criminal activities. While investigations are still ongoing, the facts presently available disclose reasonable grounds to investigate the commission of offences, which may include bribery of voters, criminal conspiracy, harbouring or concealing a wanted criminal and any other offences that may be disclosed upon the conclusion of the investigation,” he said.
The police spokesman added that investigators were working to determine the source and intended use of the recovered cash, identify all persons connected with the exhibits and uncover the full extent of any alleged criminal network.
He stressed that no individual, regardless of political office or social status, would be shielded from prosecution if found culpable after investigations.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Government accused the police of invading the residence of the SSG without a search warrant.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, the government alleged that a combined team of police officers, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, stormed the residence and arrested those found on the premises.
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