By Kayode Agbala

The Osun State Police Command has arrested several suspects, including the Secretary to the Osun State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, following an operation linked to an alleged vote-buying investigation in Osogbo.

This revelation was contained in a statement by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, on Wednesday.

The statement said the arrest was carried out during an operation in which officers also recovered millions of naira, electoral materials and other exhibits.

According to the statement, “the operation was carried out after the command received credible and actionable intelligence that a criminal gang was operating around the Oroki Estate area of Osogbo.”

The police said “the operation targeted a residential property linked to the Secretary to the Osun State Government (SSG), where officers were searching for a suspect identified as Abiodun Arowomole, popularly known as ‘Ashipa’, who is on the police watch list over alleged involvement in serious criminal offences, including murder.

“During the operation, police officers recovered a cash sum of N4,810,500, one Dynabook laptop, one photocopy machine, one printer, two Permanent Voter Cards and a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15.

“The command stated that all recovered items had been secured for forensic examination and further investigation.”

The command confirmed “the arrest of Teslim Igbalaye, 47, alongside Akande Taiwo, 60, Oladele Abiodun, 38, Adeyemo Lukman, 45, Olaoye Muftau, 50, and Aderemi Musliu, 40. The suspects were found within the premises during the operation and had been taken into lawful custody.”

Police said the recovery of the cash and voter register had raised concerns over possible electoral offences and other criminal activities, prompting investigators to broaden the scope of their enquiries.

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

The command disclosed that investigators were examining possible offences under the Electoral Act 2022, including the alleged bribery of voters through the distribution of money or inducements intended to influence voting decisions.

It added that investigators were also considering allegations of criminal conspiracy and the possible harbouring or concealment of a wanted suspect.

The police stated that additional offences could emerge as investigations progress, depending on the outcome of forensic examinations and evidence gathered during the inquiry.

“The Osun State Police Command wishes to emphasise that these are serious allegations with far-reaching implications for public security, the administration of justice, and the credibility of the democratic process,” the statement added.

The command assured residents that investigations were being intensified to identify everyone connected with the recovered exhibits, determine the source and intended use of the recovered funds, and establish the full extent of any alleged criminal enterprise.

“I wish to assure the good people of Osun State that the Nigeria Police Force remains steadfast in its constitutional responsibility to enforce the law without fear or favour, affection or ill will. No individual, irrespective of social status, political affiliation or public office, is above the law. Any person found culpable at the conclusion of investigations will be prosecuted in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all applicable laws,” CP Gotan said.

By our reporter

A judge of the Kebbi State High Court, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, has been abducted by suspected bandits following an attack on his residence in Bunza Local Government Area of the state.

The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Sunday at the judge’s home along Zogirma Road shortly after he returned from a trip to Sokoto.

Sources familiar with the development said the armed men stormed the residence around midnight and whisked the judge away.

“He had just returned from Sokoto when the gunmen stormed his residence and took him away,” a source said.

The source explained that no member of the judge’s household sustained injuries during the attack, although the assailants fired several gunshots before fleeing with their victim.

“Immediately the incident occurred, we reported to the appropriate authorities, including the leadership of the High Court,” he said.

Confirming the abduction, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Kebbi State Command, SP Bashir Usman, said security operatives had commenced efforts to secure the judge’s release.

He said, “I can confirm that Hon. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza was abducted from his residence in Bunza around midnight”.

According to the police spokesman, the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Muhammad Hadejia, immediately deployed tactical teams and intelligence personnel after receiving the report.

“As we speak, our personnel are combing identified locations, including forest areas, to ensure that the judge is rescued alive and unharmed,” the PPRO said.

A senior official of the Kebbi State High Court, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, described the incident as a disturbing development for the judiciary.

“I am not authorized to speak formally, but this is a painful moment for us. To hear that one of our judge was abducted at his residence is very disturbing”, he said.

The official added that the management of the High Court had already met with heads of security agencies in the state to coordinate efforts aimed at securing the judge’s immediate release.

As of the time of filing this report, no individual or group had claimed responsibility for the abduction.

(DAILY TRUST)

** DSS kicks, demands death sentence, set to appeal judgement

By Eze Nzeh

There are strong indications that the Department of State Security (DSS) may again head to the appeal court to challenge yesterday’s high court judgement that sentenced three Oriire, Oyo State school abductors to life imprisonment.

Recall that the abductors, who were alleged to belong the Ansari terrorist group abducted about 46 Oyo school children and teachers, who were held in captivity for 56 days before they were reportedly rescued by a joint security forces comprising the DSS, Nigerian military, the Police and Nigeria Civil Security Defence Corps.

The group also beheaded a one of the teachers while in captivity, while one was similarly killed during the kidnap operation.

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, sentenced three persons who were arrested and charged by the DSS for their involvement in the Oriire school killings and abductions to life in prison over their complicity.

Justice Salim Ibrahim in his ruling, convicted and sentenced the defendants, Abdulrazak Umar (a.k.a. Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (a.k.a. Yunusa bin Musa), and Shamsu Adamu Sani (a.k.a. Abu Itisar), after they pleaded guilty to some of the 10 count charges that were read before them, which included terrorism, kidnapping, concealment, incitement, and illegal mining amongst others.

Following their arraignment, they admitted that they concealed information about the masterminds of the school attack.

The defendants also admitted to be members of Darul Salam, which was described as an affiliate of Jamaatu Asarul Muslima Fi Bilandis Sudan (Ansaru), a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.

Following their guilty pleas, leader of the federal government prosecutibg team, the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who is also the Director of Public Prosecution, urged the court to sentence the defendants on the counts they admitted.

But the defence counsel, however, pleaded with the court for leniency, describing them as first-time offenders who had shown remorse by pleading guilty.

The defence counsel argued that the charges they admitted were not directly related to the kidnapping itself and appealed to the court to consider their family responsibilities, noting that they were married men with children and had aged parents dependent on them.

However, prosecution counsel further countered the defence counsel’s position. arguing that the convicts were aware of the activities of those involved in the attack and, as responsible citizens, ought to have reported the information to security authorities.

The court, after considering the submissions of both parties, convicted the defendants and sentenced them to life imprisonment.

The convicts, who are all from Suleja LGA of Niger State, were among other charges, alleged to have conspired with one Muhammad Sani, Jibril Mohammed, and Ibrahim Khabab, between January and May 2026, to kidnap school children and teachers in Oyo State, contrary to Section 26(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The prosecution also noted that by their membership in the Ansaru terrorist sect, they were alleged to have acted in breach of Section 25(1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

It would be recalled also that another federal high court in Abuja had last week, sentenced two top commanders of the Ansaru terrorist organisation who were also captured by the DSS, to life imprisonment.

The commanders, were Mahmud Muhammad Usman (Abu Bara’a) and his deputy Mahmud al-Nigeri (Mallam Mamuda).

Recall also that part of the demand by the Oriire school abductors were the unconditional barter release of the arrested Ansaru commanders for the release of the abducted school children and their teachers. This, the federal government rejected before they were rounded up and eventually arrested and rescued the abducted school children and teachers after 56 days in the Oyo National Park forest.

However, the Department of State Services, (DSS) rejected the court ruling on the Ansaru commanders and expressed their readiness to challenge it at the appeal court, insisting that the punishment does not reflect the gravity of their crimes committed by the terrorists.

Justice Emeka Nwite had on Monday sentenced Abubakar Abba, also known as Abu Bara’a, and Mahmud Usman, alias Isah Adam/Mahmud, to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to a 32-count terrorism charge filed against them by the DSS on behalf of the Federal Government.

While rejecting the earlier sentences, the security agency claimed that the Oriire abductors had demanded the unconditional release of the two Ansaru commanders as a condition for freeing the victims and allegedly beheaded two teachers to pressure the government.

“The reason the terrorists beheaded the two Oriire teachers was to put pressure on government to release these two Ansaru commanders. It, therefore, wouldn’t be fair to see two men beheaded and their families are made to live with the losses without adequately bringing the culprits to book,” the DSS was quoted as saying.