The Lagos State Police Command on Monday said it has uncovered a printing press where election materials meant for Saturday’s gubernatorial elections in Ekiti State were being printed.

The Police, in a statement signed by Imohimi Edgal, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police said the CP led some detectives to the printing press located at 13A and 13B Oguntona Street, Gbagada area of the state.

Imohimi said the Police learnt from intelligence information, that ballot papers meant for Saturday’s governorship poll in Ekiti State were being printed at the company – O’Naphtali Limited where two persons were arrested.

The Police said among the items the Police  discovered at the printing press include a booklet of form belonging to Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC), as well as a copy of the state’s voter card register.

“On July 8, an intelligence report from a credible source was received by the Command that ballot papers meant for the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ekiti were being printed in a company, O’Naphtali Limited, located at 13B Oguntona Crescent, Gbagada, Lagos,” Imohimi said while briefing newsmen after the raid.

“The company is owned by one Eniola Fayose. The report further revealed that some of the printed ballot papers were moved to Ekiti in three Hilux vans on Friday July 6, while the artworks were still in the company’s graphic computers.

“Based on the report, I led a contingent of policemen to the location, to verify the information. At the scene, it was also discovered that the buildings are being used for general printing/art work,” he added.

The Commissioner said after a search warrant was executed on the premises, the following items were recovered: “One HP laptop, one Acer laptop, one booklet of form EC/ EK 8B Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC), three EKEC 50 A envelops for miscellaneous materials, two pieces of Ekiti SEC, eight A (1) statement of result, and one copy of form Ekiti SEC eight A (1).”

Other items recovered include one income tax clearance certificate of Ekiti State, seven pieces of Ekiti State Internal revenue motor receipts, one piece of form EC 8A of Ekiti SEC, one piece of Ekiti State voter’s card register, log book cover for Ado local government among others.

He however added that preliminary investigations by the detectives showed that the company is in a contractual agreement with the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission to print the elections materials found during the raid.

Interestingly, a background check on O’Naphtali Limited showed that contrary to speculations, Eniola is not in any way related to Ayodele Fayose, the Ekiti State governor.

Based in Lagos, Eniola has been the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of O’Naphtali Company Limited for years. Although from Ekiti, the entrepreneur hails from Ikere-Ekiti while Governor Fayose is from Afao-Ekiti.

A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is a fellow of various bodies including Quality Management Development Institute, Institute of Direct Marketing, Institute of Chartered Management Accountants and Institute of Brand Management of Nigeria.