The Secretary to the Osun State Government, SSG, Teslim Igbalaiye, arrested by the Osun state Police command on Wednesday has been released.
Spokesperson for the group leading the re-election campaign of Governor Ademola Adeleke, ‘the Imole Campaign Council’, Pelumi Olajengbesi announced Igbalaiye’s release on his verified Facebook page on Thursday.
He wrote, “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.”
The development was also confirmed by the spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, in a telephone conversation with journalists in Osogbo.
The release came hours after the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, alleged that the arrest of the SSG was ordered by the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, following an incident at an Independent National Electoral Commission stakeholders’ meeting.
Egbedun claimed the commissioner directed the arrest after he was booed by some attendees and noticed Igbalaiye laughing during the incident.
He also alleged that the SSG was later informed that police officers were waiting at his residence. The police, however, maintained that the raid and arrests were based on intelligence linking the suspects to alleged criminal activities and possible electoral offences.
Recall, Igbalaiye (SSG) and five others were arrested and detained by the state police command after a raid on his residence in Osogbo on Wednesday.
The five arrested with Igbalaiye are: Akande Taiwo, 60; Adeyemo Lukman, 45; Olaoye Muftau, 50; and Aderemi Musliu, 40.
The police alleged that among those arrested at the SSG’s residence was a suspect on the police watchlist in connection with criminal offences, Oladele Abiodun.
According to the police, a sum of N4,810,500, two Permanent Voter Cards, a voter register, a Dynabook laptop, one photocopy machine and one printer were recovered from Igbalaiye’s residence.
