The Secretary to the Osun State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaiye, has been released from police custody, less than 24 hours after his arrest during a security operation at his residence in Osogbo.
His release was confirmed on Thursday by the spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, who announced the development in a post on Facebook.
Olajengbesi expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police and the Osun State Commissioner of Police, saying they had responded positively to public appeals over what the council described as Igbalaiye’s wrongful arrest.
“The Nigerian Police Force best serves the nation when it upholds justice, protects citizens’ rights and resists oppression. Welcome back, Chief Teslim Igbalaiye. Your commitment and sacrifice in service to the people of Osun State will always be remembered,” he wrote.
The spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, also confirmed that the SSG had been released.
Igbalaiye was taken into custody on Wednesday alongside five other individuals after police operatives carried out a raid on his residence following intelligence reports that a wanted suspect was allegedly being sheltered at the location.
According to the police, one of those arrested, identified as Oladele Abiodun, is on the command’s watchlist over alleged criminal activities.
During the operation, security personnel reportedly recovered ₦4.81 million in cash, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15, a Dynabook laptop computer, a photocopy machine and a printer.
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Police authorities said the recovered items have become part of an ongoing investigation into suspected electoral offences, including alleged vote-buying, criminal conspiracy and harbouring of a wanted suspect.
The command added that all exhibits have been taken into custody for forensic examination as investigations continue.
Earlier on Thursday, Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, alleged that the arrest was politically motivated.
He claimed the Commissioner of Police ordered Igbalaiye’s arrest after the SSG allegedly laughed when the police commissioner was booed during a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Osun State Police Command dismissed the allegation, insisting that the operation was based on actionable intelligence and formed part of an ongoing investigation into suspected criminal activities and possible violations of electoral laws.
