A fresh storm has erupted in Osun State after the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, alleged that Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan ordered the arrest of Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, after the police chief was booed at a public event.
Egbedun claimed the dramatic incident happened during an INEC stakeholders’ meeting attended by the Deputy Governor, Igbalaye and himself.
According to the Speaker, Gotan was booed by some people while addressing the gathering.
He alleged that shortly after returning to his seat, the commissioner looked towards the Speaker, the Deputy Governor and the SSG, who reportedly laughed.
Egbedun said he became suspicious when he saw Gotan pick up his phone and make several calls.
“I turned to the SSG and said, ‘The Commissioner of Police has just ordered your arrest,’” he said.
And, according to the Speaker, his prediction came true within minutes.
He said Igbalaye soon received a call informing him that police officers were waiting for him at his residence.
The SSG then reportedly left the meeting and later told Egbedun that he had been invited to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The Speaker said the police claimed to have recovered about N4.8 million, voter cards and other items from Igbalaye’s compound.
Egbedun questioned why such items would warrant the arrest or invitation of a senior government official.
But the police have given a completely different account of the incident.
The Osun Police Command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, said officers acted on intelligence about suspected criminal activity in Osogbo.
He said the operation led to the recovery of N4,810,500, two Permanent Voter’s Cards, a voter register and other items allegedly linked to electoral offences.
Ojelabi said only six adult suspects were arrested, dismissing claims that dozens of people were picked up.
The Speaker also alleged that there had been attempts to withdraw his security and that some police officers were allegedly planning to implicate and arrest him.
Egbedun said he had refused to be intimidated and vowed not to abandon Osun State.
He appealed to Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu to urgently intervene in the matter.
According to him, the people of Osun deserve a police force that is “professional, impartial and respectful of the rule of law.”
