Adeleke reacts as police detain SSG and five others

Tension increased in Osun State on Wednesday ahead of the governorship election. The police arrested the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaiye, along with five others.

The Ademola Adeleke campaign and the Osun State Government accused the police of targeting political opponents. They described the arrests as part of a political crackdown.

According to the police, the suspects were arrested during a raid at Igbalaiye’s home in Osogbo. They claimed to have found N4,810,500, two voter cards, a voter register, and other items related to electoral offences. The state government and the governor’s campaign team rejected these allegations.

The police also mentioned that Oladele Abiodun, a suspect linked to other crimes, was among those arrested at Igbalaiye’s house. The police spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, said they recovered two PVCs, a voter register, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine, and a printer.

The other individuals arrested with Igbalaiye include Akande Taiwo, 60; Adeyemo Lukman, 45; Olaoye Muftau, 50; and Aderemi Musliu, 40. The police stated that their action followed intelligence reports about criminal gangs in Osogbo.

"During the operation, officers recovered exhibits comprising a cash sum of four million eight hundred ten thousand, five hundred naira (N4,810,500), one Dynabook laptop, one photocopy machine, one printer, two Permanent Voter’s Cards, and a voter register for wards 1-15," Ojelabi said.

The recovered cash and voter register raised concerns about possible electoral offences. "While investigations are still ongoing, the facts presently available disclose reasonable grounds to investigate the commission of offences 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," the statement read.

The police emphasized that the allegations against the suspects could affect public security, justice, and the democratic process. They said investigations would continue to identify everyone involved and to determine the source and intended use of the recovered funds.

The Osun police command made it clear that no one is above the law. They said anyone found guilty after the investigation would face prosecution according to the law. They urged the public to remain calm and help the police with information to prevent crime and ensure fair elections.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Government accused the police of invading Igbalaiye's home without a search warrant. This was stated by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, in a statement obtained by The PUNCH in Osogbo.

Alimi claimed that the police officers present during the raid were also arrested. He said the operation was led by the Deputy Commissioner for Operations. He added that family members of Igbalaiye were taken away during the incident.

"The Osun State Government has raised alarm over systematic invasion, attacks, and busting of homes of top Osun State government officials by the state police command without a proper search warrant, with the latest being the invasion of the house of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG)," Alimi said.

He noted that the SSG was attending a stakeholders' forum organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission while his ward officials held a meeting at his residence. Alimi also mentioned that the police raided the home of the Commissioner for Energy in Ikire, damaging property.

"Following several raids and arrests, reports indicate that several Accord members are in CID cells at the state command without bail. These raids on the SSG and our commissioners are an assault on the government and people of Osun State," he said.

The Adeleke campaign team demanded the immediate release of supporters arrested by the police. Campaign spokesperson Pelumi Olajengbesi said over 86 members were arrested across Osun State without any lawful reason.

He alleged that the arrests were politically motivated to intimidate opposition supporters before the elections. "We have just come out of the IRT office. In the last two to three days, over 86 people, members of our party, have been arrested for no reason," Olajengbesi said.

He further claimed that 36 detainees were sent to Keffi Correctional Centre and 14 to Kuje without charges. "This must not continue," he insisted. Olajengbesi also accused the Osun State Commissioner of Police of compromising the electoral process.

He called on the Inspector General of Police to ensure fair elections in Osun State. "We want the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that there is a free and fair election. The police should do their job," he said.

The Osun State police command dismissed the allegations, stating that only six suspects were arrested. Ojelabi told The PUNCH that the suspects were all adults and were apprehended based on credible intelligence.

"Just six persons were arrested. All adults. The youngest among them should be 40 years. Six persons were arrested, not 56," the police spokesperson said. He denied claims that police invaded the homes of government officials. "The police did not invade the house of commissioners. They only went based on information," he added.

In response to calls for the removal of the Commissioner of Police, Ojelabi said that decision was not up to the officer. "The CP himself has responded to that. He said it is their choice. He’s not the one to remove himself," he said.