Police Release Osun SSG After Detention, Probe into Alleged Electoral Offences Continues

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

The SSG’s release was confirmed on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, during a telephone interview with journalists in Osogbo.

The development was also announced by Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, the campaign organisation coordinating the re-election bid of Ademola Adeleke.

In a statement posted on his verified Facebook page, Olajengbesi thanked the Inspector-General of Police and the Osun State Commissioner of Police for approving Igbalaiye’s release.

He described the arrest as unlawful and commended the police leadership for responding to public calls for the SSG’s freedom.

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

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

Police said officers recovered ₦4,810,500 in cash, 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 are being examined as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged electoral offences, including vote-buying, criminal conspiracy and harbouring a wanted suspect.

It added that investigations are continuing to determine the circumstances surrounding the recovered exhibits and other allegations.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, alleged that the SSG’s arrest was politically motivated.

Egbedun claimed that the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, ordered Igbalaiye’s arrest after an incident at an Independent National Electoral Commission stakeholders’ meeting.

However, the police dismissed the allegation, maintaining that the operation was intelligence-driven and conducted solely on the basis of suspected criminal activities and possible electoral offences.