The Ogun State Police Command says it has arrested two officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others with a large sum of money allegedly meant for vote-buying during the Federal Constituency by-election in Iperu Remo on Saturday.
The suspects, identified as Toryem Joe-Stans and Mandara Aminat, were arrested alongside their driver at about 12:45 a.m. in a Mitsubishi Spacewagon with registration number LAGOS AKD 887 HT.
Police spokesperson Omolola Odutola confirmed the arrest, noting that a patrol team attached to the Iperu Remo Division intercepted the vehicle and recovered ₦2.5 million from Mr. Joe-Stans.
“During interrogation, he confessed that the money was collected at Kehoy Hotel, Iperu, from a man he referred to as ‘Political Solution’, on the instructions of his supervisor,” Odutola said.
A video of the arrest, which surfaced online in the early hours of Saturday, also showed a top Ogun politician and three other persons being questioned over the cash. In the clip, one of the INEC officials claimed he had been directed by his constituency supervisor to meet a politician at the hotel. However, the politician in question quickly denied any involvement, saying:
“I don’t know anything about this money you’re talking about, and I am still waiting for you (the police) to tell me why I am here.”
According to Odutola, the State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has ordered that the suspects be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Eleweran, for thorough investigation.
She added that police monitoring of the by-election was ongoing and assured the public that the outcome of the investigation would be made known.
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