The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, has alleged that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Gotan, ordered the arrest of the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, after he was booed by members of the public during an official event.
Egbedun’s account differs from the explanation earlier provided by the Osun State Police Command, which maintained that the operation was based on intelligence and targeted suspected electoral offenders.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Speaker said he witnessed the events leading to the SSG’s invitation by the police while attending an Independent National Electoral Commission stakeholders’ meeting alongside the Deputy Governor and Igbalaye.
According to Egbedun, the incident began when the police commissioner was jeered while addressing participants at the meeting.
“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,” he said.
The Speaker claimed he became suspicious after seeing the police commissioner make several phone calls.
“The next thing I observed was Commissioner Gotan picking up his telephone and making a series of calls. From what I saw, I turned to the SSG and said, ‘The Commissioner of Police has just ordered your arrest,'” Egbedun stated.
He added that shortly afterwards, Igbalaye received a telephone call informing him that police officers were waiting at his residence, prompting him to leave the meeting.
Egbedun said the SSG later informed him that he had been invited to the State Criminal Investigation Department after police reportedly recovered about N4 million, two Permanent Voter Cards and other items from his residence.
“He informed me that he had been invited to the State Criminal Investigation Department because the police allegedly recovered N4 million and two voter cards belonging to members of his political party who were holding a meeting within his compound. I honestly do not understand how such an allegation justified inviting, or attempting to arrest, a public official of his standing,” he said.
The police had earlier stated that officers acted on credible intelligence about suspected criminal activities in Osogbo.
According to the command, six adult suspects were arrested during the operation, while cash, two Permanent Voter Cards, a voter register and other items believed to be linked to electoral offences were recovered.
The command also dismissed reports that dozens of people were arrested and insisted that decisions on the deployment or transfer of the commissioner rest solely with the Inspector-General of Police.
Egbedun further accused the police commissioner of previously attempting to withdraw security personnel attached to him despite intelligence of an alleged planned attack on his residence.
“My security personnel and I remained on high alert in anticipation of the attack. 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,” he alleged.
He said he confronted the commissioner over the directive and insisted he would not be intimidated.
The Speaker also claimed he had received information suggesting that some police officers were planning to implicate and arrest him.
“Many people have advised me to leave Osun State or vacate my residence for my own safety. However, I have consistently maintained that I will not abandon Osun for anyone,” he said.
Egbedun appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to intervene, urging him to ensure policing in Osun remains professional, impartial and in line with the rule of law.
