Police Release Osun SSG as Probe Into Alleged Electoral Offences Continues

By Opeyemi Adelakun

The Osun State Police Command has released the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, less than 24 hours after he was arrested during a police raid on his residence in Osogbo.

The development was confirmed on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, while the spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, also announced the release, describing it as a victory for justice.

“We sincerely appreciate the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, for listening to the voice of reason and responding to the people’s demand regarding the unlawful arrest of the Secretary to the State Government,” Olajengbesi said.

Igbalaye was arrested alongside five others after police operatives, acting on intelligence, raided his residence in Osogbo on Wednesday. The command said one of those arrested, Oladele Abiodun, was on its watchlist over alleged criminal offences.

Police also disclosed that N4.81 million in cash, two Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a voter register covering Wards 1–15, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine and a printer were recovered during the operation.

According to the police, the recovered items have been taken into custody for forensic examination as investigators probe possible electoral offences, including alleged voter bribery, criminal conspiracy, harbouring a wanted suspect and other offences that may emerge from the investigation.

The release came hours after Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, alleged that the arrest was ordered by the state Commissioner of Police following an incident at an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stakeholders’ meeting where the police commissioner was reportedly booed.

However, the Osun State Police Command maintained that the operation was intelligence-driven and was aimed at apprehending suspected criminals, insisting that investigations into the alleged offences are still ongoing.