By The Secretary to the Osun State Government, Teslim Igbalaiye, has been released by the Osun State Police Command, a day after his arrest and detention over the raid on his residence in Osogbo.
His release was first announced by Pelumi Olajengbesi, spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, the group leading Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election bid, in a post on his verified Facebook page on Thursday. The police command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, later confirmed the release in a phone conversation with journalists in Osogbo.
Igbalaiye and five others were arrested on Wednesday following a raid on his residence, which the police said was carried out based on intelligence that a criminal gang was hiding at the location. Among those arrested was Oladele Abiodun, a suspect already on the police watchlist in connection with alleged criminal offences. Others held alongside the SSG were identified as Akande Taiwo, 60; Adeyemo Lukman, 45; Olaoye Muftau, 50; and Aderemi Musliu, 40.
Ojelabi said the police recovered N4,810,500 in cash, two Permanent Voter Cards, a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15, a laptop, a photocopier, and a printer during the raid, and that the exhibits had been secured for forensic examination. He said the recovery raised concerns over possible electoral offences, including vote-buying under Section 121 of the Electoral Act 2022, criminal conspiracy, and harbouring a wanted criminal, alongside any other offences the investigation might uncover.
The release came hours after the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, alleged that the arrest had been ordered by the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, following an incident at an INEC stakeholders’ meeting. Egbedun claimed Gotan directed the arrest after being booed by attendees and noticing Igbalaiye laughing during the incident, and that the SSG was later informed police officers were waiting at his residence.
The police maintained that the raid and arrests were based on intelligence linking the suspects to criminal activity and possible electoral offences, rather than any incident at the stakeholders’ meeting.
