By Happy Bayo
National News
The Osun State Police Command has released the Secretary to the Osun State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaiye, barely 24 hours after he was arrested during a police operation at his residence in Osogbo.
His release was confirmed on Thursday by the spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, who announced the development in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page.
Olajengbesi commended the Inspector-General of Police and the Osun State Commissioner of Police for what he described as their willingness to heed public calls over the arrest. He maintained that the police acted appropriately by releasing the SSG and said the decision reinforced public confidence in justice and the rule of law.
The Osun State Police Command also confirmed that Igbalaiye had been released. However, the command did not indicate that investigations into the circumstances surrounding his arrest had been concluded.
Igbalaiye was arrested on Wednesday alongside five other individuals after police operatives reportedly carried out an intelligence-led raid on his residence in Osogbo.
According to the police, one of those apprehended during the operation was a suspect identified as Oladele Abiodun, who was said to be on the police watchlist over alleged criminal offences.
The command disclosed that officers recovered N4,810,500 in cash, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine and a printer during the operation.
Others arrested alongside the SSG were identified as Akande Taiwo, 60; Adeyemo Lukman, 45; Olaoye Muftau, 50; and Aderemi Musliu, 40.
Police spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi said the recovered items had been taken into custody for forensic examination as investigators seek to determine whether any electoral or criminal offences were committed.
According to him, the recovery of cash and voter-related materials raised concerns that warranted further investigation, including possible vote-buying contrary to the Electoral Act 2022, criminal conspiracy, harbouring a wanted suspect and any other offences that may emerge during the investigation.
The arrest sparked political controversy in the state after the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, alleged that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, ordered the SSG’s arrest following an incident at an Independent National Electoral Commission stakeholders’ meeting.
Egbedun claimed the police commissioner took the decision after some participants reportedly booed him at the meeting while noticing Igbalaiye laughing during the incident. He further alleged that the SSG was informed that police officers were waiting at his residence before the operation.
The police, however, dismissed the political claims, insisting that the raid was based strictly on credible intelligence linking some of the suspects to alleged criminal activities and possible electoral offences.
Although Igbalaiye has regained his freedom, the Osun State Police Command says investigations into the recovered exhibits and the circumstances surrounding the arrests are still ongoing.
