Assembly Speaker Reveals Why Osun Police Boss Ordered SSG’s Arrest

The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Olumide Egbedun, has alleged that the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, ordered the arrest of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye, shortly after an incident that occurred during an INEC stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo.

Egbedun made the claim in a statement released on Thursday, where he gave his account of the events surrounding the police invitation extended to the SSG.

The Speaker also called on the Inspector-General of Police to redeploy the police commissioner, accusing him of using his office to intimidate government officials and political opponents in the state.

Politics Nigeria earlier reported the arrest of Igbalaye and several others by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force over allegations linked to vote-buying activities.

The arrests were carried out during a police operation at a residence associated with the SSG in Oroki Estate, Osogbo.

Police authorities had earlier disclosed that the operation was based on intelligence reports concerning suspected unlawful activities at the location.

During the exercise, officers reportedly recovered cash amounting to N4.81 million, a laptop, a printer, a photocopy machine, voter registers and two Permanent Voter Cards.

According to the police, the items were recovered during a raid on the premises and have been taken into custody for further examination and investigation.

Several individuals found within the property were also arrested and taken into custody alongside the SSG.

However, the Osun Assembly Speaker has strongly questioned the circumstances surrounding the police action.

Giving his version of events, Egbedun said he was seated with the Deputy Governor and the SSG throughout the INEC stakeholders’ meeting when an incident involving the police commissioner occurred.

According to him, attendees at the meeting openly expressed their displeasure while the commissioner was addressing the gathering.

“We all witnessed the unfortunate moment when Commissioner Gotan was booed while on the podium by citizens of Osun State. Immediately he returned to his seat, he looked directly towards us. At that moment, the SSG laughed,” Egbedun stated.

The Speaker alleged that the police commissioner immediately began making several telephone calls after returning to his seat, prompting suspicion among those seated nearby.

“The next thing I observed was Commissioner Gotan picking up his telephone and making a series of calls,” he said.

“From what I saw, I turned to the SSG and said, ‘The Commissioner of Police has just ordered your arrest.’”

Egbedun said his concerns appeared to be confirmed moments later when Igbalaye received a telephone call informing him that police officers had arrived at his residence.

According to the Speaker, the development forced the SSG to leave the stakeholders’ meeting before it concluded.

He said he later contacted Igbalaye and was informed that police officers wanted him at the State Criminal Investigation Department over allegations that money and voter cards linked to members of his political party were discovered at a meeting allegedly held within his residence.

“I honestly do not understand how such an allegation justified inviting, or attempting to arrest, a public official of his standing,” the Speaker said.

Beyond the incident involving the SSG, Egbedun also accused the police commissioner of targeting him personally.

He alleged that there had been previous attempts to expose him to security threats despite intelligence reports suggesting that armed political thugs were planning attacks within the state.

According to the Speaker, one of such incidents occurred when police officers attached to his security detail were allegedly ordered to report to the commissioner’s office at a time when threats against him were said to be increasing.

“At one point, we received credible intelligence that some APC thugs were planning to attack my residence,” he stated.

“However, to my greatest surprise, my police orderly received a call from Commissioner Gotan directing that every police officer attached to me should report to his office for questioning that very day.”

Egbedun said he immediately challenged the directive and contacted the commissioner directly.

“I immediately telephoned the Commissioner and told him that I am a proud son of Onikoyi, and that I neither fear nor bow to intimidation,” he said.

“I made it abundantly clear that I would never abandon my state or my ancestral home because of anyone, particularly someone I regard as a stranger.”

The Speaker further claimed that some officers under the command of the police commissioner had been working to implicate him in undisclosed matters.

“In my view, Commissioner Gotan and some officers under his command have caused significant disruption in Osun State,” he stated.

“For the past two weeks, I have received information suggesting that some of his officers have been moving around, allegedly planning and strategising on how to implicate and arrest me.”

Despite the alleged threats, Egbedun said he had refused advice from associates who urged him to temporarily leave the state for safety reasons.

“I have consistently maintained that I will not abandon Osun for anyone,” he declared.

“If those behind these alleged plans decide to carry them out, I remain resolute in my belief that justice will ultimately prevail and that evil will never triumph over righteousness.”

The Speaker appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to intervene in the matter and redeploy the commissioner from the state.

He argued that residents of Osun deserved professional policing free from political influence or intimidation.

“The people of Osun are peaceful, law-abiding citizens who deserve policing that is professional, impartial and respectful of the rule of law,” he said.

The police command has maintained that the investigation into the alleged electoral offences is ongoing, while the recovered items remain in police custody pending the outcome of further inquiries.