Police release Osun SSG after detention

The Osun State Police Command has released the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaiye, following his detention over allegations linked to suspected electoral offences.

Igbalaiye’s release was confirmed on Thursday by the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, in a telephone interview with journalists in Osogbo.

The development was also announced by Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, the group coordinating Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election campaign.

In a post on his verified Facebook page, Olajengbesi thanked the Inspector-General of Police and the Osun Commissioner of Police for what he described as responding to public calls for Igbalaiye’s release.

“We sincerely appreciate the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, for listening to the voice of reason despite pressure and for responding to the people’s demand regarding the unlawful arrest of the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Igbalaye Teslim,” he wrote.

Igbalaiye was arrested on Wednesday alongside five others after police operatives raided his residence in Osogbo.

According to the police, the operation followed intelligence reports that suspected criminals were hiding at the location. The command said one of those arrested, Oladele Abiodun, was on its watchlist for alleged criminal offences.

Police also said they recovered N4,810,500, two Permanent Voter Cards, a voter register, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine and a printer during the operation.

The command said the recovered items were being examined as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged electoral offences, including vote-buying, criminal conspiracy and harbouring a wanted suspect.

The police maintained that investigations are continuing to determine the circumstances surrounding the recovered exhibits and other allegations.

Igbalaiye’s release came hours after the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, alleged that the arrest was politically motivated.

Egbedun claimed the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, ordered the SSG’s arrest after being booed at an Independent National Electoral Commission stakeholders’ meeting, where he allegedly noticed Igbalaiye laughing.

The police have rejected the allegation, insisting that the raid was intelligence-driven and based solely on suspected criminal activities and possible electoral offences.