The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, has alleged that the arrest of Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, was personally ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, following an incident at an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ meeting.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Egbedun said he attended the meeting alongside the Deputy Governor and Igbalaye when members of the public booed the Commissioner of Police while he was addressing attendees.
According to the Speaker, Gotan appeared displeased after returning to his seat and made several phone calls shortly afterward.
"At that moment, the SSG laughed," Egbedun stated, adding that he immediately suspected that the police commissioner had ordered Igbalaye's arrest.
He said he warned the SSG of his suspicion moments before Igbalaye reportedly received a phone call informing him that police officers were waiting at his residence. Igbalaye then left the venue.
Egbedun said the SSG later informed him that he had been invited by the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over allegations that police recovered cash and voter-related materials from his compound.
According to the Speaker, the police alleged that N4 million and two voter cards belonging to members of Igbalaye's political party were found during a meeting held at his residence. He questioned whether the allegations justified inviting or attempting to arrest a senior government official.
The Osun State Police Command has presented a different account of the incident.
Police spokesperson Abiodun Ojelabi said officers acted on intelligence reports indicating that criminal gangs were operating in Osogbo. He stated that police recovered N4,810,500, two Permanent Voter Cards, a voter register and other items suspected to be connected to electoral offences.
Ojelabi said six adult suspects were arrested during the operation and dismissed claims that dozens of individuals were detained.
The police command also rejected calls for Commissioner Gotan's removal, noting that decisions regarding his posting are the responsibility of the Inspector-General of Police.
In his statement, Egbedun described the incident involving the SSG as part of a broader pattern of intimidation. He recounted a separate experience in which he claimed the police commissioner ordered the withdrawal of officers attached to his security detail after intelligence reports suggested that thugs were planning to attack his residence.
The Speaker said he contacted Gotan directly and informed him that he would not leave Osun State or abandon his residence because of threats or intimidation.
Egbedun further alleged that he has received information over the past two weeks suggesting that some police officers are attempting to implicate and arrest him. Despite advice from associates to temporarily leave the state for his safety, he said he has chosen to remain in Osun.
He appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to intervene, accusing the police commissioner of using his office to intimidate political figures in the state.
"The people of Osun are peaceful, law-abiding citizens who deserve policing that is professional, impartial and respectful of the rule of law," the Speaker said.
The allegations by the Speaker and the explanation provided by the police command present sharply different accounts of the circumstances surrounding the SSG's arrest and the events leading up to it.
