The Secretary to the Osun State Government, Teslim Igbalaiye, has regained his freedom after being released by the Osun State Police Command following his arrest over allegations linked to vote buying and other electoral offences.
His release was confirmed on Thursday, bringing an end to hours of uncertainty surrounding his detention.
This follows reactions from political stakeholders and supporters of the Osun State government, who had questioned the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
The announcement was first made by Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, the body coordinating the re-election campaign of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
In a statement shared on his verified Facebook page, Olajengbesi welcomed the release of the SSG and commended the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force.
“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,” he wrote.
The Osun State Police Command also confirmed that Igbalaiye had been released. The command, however, has not indicated that investigations into the allegations have been concluded.
The SSG was arrested on Wednesday alongside five other individuals after police operatives carried out a raid on his residence in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
According to the police, the operation followed intelligence reports suggesting that some individuals linked to criminal activities were operating from the location.
Among those arrested during the operation was Oladele Abiodun, a man the police described as being on its watchlist over alleged criminal offences.
Other persons apprehended during the raid were identified as Akande Taiwo, 60; Adeyemo Lukman, 45; Olaoye Muftau, 50; and Aderemi Musliu, 40.
Police authorities disclosed that several items were recovered from the residence during the operation.
The recovered materials included a cash sum of N4,810,500, two Permanent Voter Cards, a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15, a Dynabook laptop computer, a photocopy machine and a printer.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the items had been taken into custody as part of ongoing investigations.
“During the operation, officers recovered exhibits comprising a cash sum of four million, eight hundred and ten thousand, five hundred naira (N4,810,500), one Dynabook laptop, one photocopy machine, one printer, two voter cards and a voter register for Wards 1-15.
“These exhibits have been secured and are currently in police custody for detailed forensic examination and further investigation.
“The recovery of the cash and the register containing voters’ details raises serious concerns regarding possible electoral offences and other criminal activities,” Ojelabi stated.
The police further said preliminary findings provided grounds for investigators to examine possible violations of the Electoral Act and other criminal laws.
According to the command, the offences being investigated include alleged voter bribery, criminal conspiracy, harbouring a wanted suspect and other possible crimes that may emerge during the course of the investigation.
“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.
“Criminal conspiracy, where two or more persons are found to have agreed to commit an unlawful act; harbouring or concealing a wanted criminal, where any individual is found to have knowingly sheltered or assisted a fugitive from justice; and any other offences that may be disclosed upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.”
The arrest quickly generated political controversy across the state.
Hours before the SSG’s release, Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, accused the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Gotan, of acting out of personal grievance.
Egbedun alleged that the commissioner ordered the arrest following an incident that occurred during a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
According to the Speaker, the police commissioner was booed by some participants at the meeting and allegedly became displeased after noticing Igbalaiye laughing during the incident.
He further claimed that the SSG later received information that police officers had been stationed around his residence before the eventual raid and arrest.
The police command has rejected suggestions that the operation was politically motivated.
However, it insisted that the raid was intelligence-driven and connected to ongoing investigations into suspected criminal activities and possible electoral offences.
