By-election: Two INEC officials arrested with N2.5m in Ogun state
The Ogun police command has announced that two officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have been arrested for alleged electoral manipulation in Iperu Remo.
Omolola Odutola, the police spokesman, said in a statement released on Saturday that the officials were arrested during the federal constituency by-election with the outrageous sum of N2.5m in their possession.
According to Odutola, the police patrol tried to ensure maximum security during the by-election as directed by the IGP which led to stopping a Mitsubishi Space Waggon with registration number LAGOS AKD 887 HT in Iperu Remo.
“The Ogun State Police Command has arrested two individuals identified as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and others for alleged electoral offences in Iperu Remo, Ogun State, during the federal constituency by-election held on 16 August 2025.
“At about 0045 hrs, a police patrol team attached to Iperu Remo Division intercepted a Mitsubishi Spacewagon with registration number LAGOS AKD 887 HT carrying three occupants, Mr Toryem Joe‑Stans and Ms Mandara Aminat, both officials of INEC, and their driver,” the statement read.
“A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of a cash sum of two million five hundred thousand naira (₦2,500,000) from Mr Toryem Joe‑Stans.
“During interrogation he confessed that the money was collected at Kehoy Hotel, Iperu, Ogun State, from a man he referred to as ‘Political Solution’, acting on the directive of his supervisor,” it added.
It is yet to be established how these officials influenced the electoral process to be given such amount nor the party which the alleged “Political Solution” belongs to.
Nevertheless, Lanre Ogunlowo, the commissioner of police in Ogun, has ordered that the suspects be transferred to the state criminal investigation department (CID) in Eleweran for further investigation.
According to him, the police will do all it takes to get to the root of the matter and bring all that involves to justice.
He reiterated the IGP’s statement about the force’s intention to fight against any act of electoral misdemeanor that may sabotage the real results of the concluded election.
