The Osun State Police Command has released the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaiye.
Igbalaiye’s release was disclosed by Pelumi Olajengbesi, the spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, the group leading the re-election campaign of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
Olajengbesi shared the development on his verified Facebook page on Thursday.
“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.
“The Nigerian Police Force best serves the nation when it stands against oppression and upholds justice and the rule of law. Welcome back, Chief Igbalaye Teslim. Your courage and sacrifice for the people of Osun State will not be forgotten. Our SSG is out, back and solid,” Olajengbesi wrote.
The spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, also confirmed the release of the politician in a telephone conversation with journalists in Osogbo.
Igbalaiye and five others were arrested and detained by the state police command after a raid on his residence in Osogbo on Wednesday.
The police reported that among those arrested at the SSG’s apartment was Oladele Abiodun, a person on the police watchlist for criminal offenses.
Ojelabi further stated that N4,810,500, two Permanent Voter Cards, a voter register, a Dynabook laptop, one photocopy machine, and one printer were recovered from Igbalaiye’s home.
Others detained beside Igbalaiye were Akande Taiwo, 60; Adeyemo Lukman, 45; Olaoye Muftau, 50; and Aderemi Musliu, 40.
The PPRO stated that a police team, acting on intelligence that a criminal gang was hibernating at a location in Osogbo, carried out a lawful raid and apprehended the suspects.
He said, “During the operation, officers recovered exhibits comprising a cash sum of four million, eight hundred and ten thousand, five hundred naira (N4,810,500), one Dynabook laptop, one photocopy machine, one printer, two voter cards, and a voter register for Wards 1-15.
“These exhibits have been secured and are currently in police custody for detailed forensic examination and further investigation.
“The recovery of the cash and the register containing voters’ details raises serious concerns regarding possible electoral offenses and other criminal activities.
“While investigations are still ongoing, the facts presently available disclose reasonable grounds to investigate the commission of offenses, which may include
“Bribery of voters (vote buying), contrary to Section 121 of the Electoral Act, 2022, arising from the alleged distribution of money or other inducements to registered voters for the purpose of influencing their voting decisions.
“Criminal conspiracy, where two or more persons are found to have agreed to commit an unlawful act; harboring or concealing a wanted criminal, where any individual is found to have knowingly sheltered or assisted a fugitive from justice; and any other offenses that may be disclosed upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.”
The release occurred hours after Adewale Egbedun, Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, said that the arrest of the SSG was ordered by the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, following an incident during an Independent National Electoral Commission stakeholder meeting.
Egbedun alleged the commissioner ordered the arrest after he was booed by some attendees and saw Igbalaiye laughing during the event.
He also said that the SSG was later told that police officers were waiting at his house. The police, on the other hand, insisted that the raid and arrests were justified by intelligence linking the accused to alleged criminal activities and potential electoral offenses.
