The Secretary to the Osun State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, has been released after spending a day in police custody following a raid on his residence in Osogbo
His release was confirmed on Thursday by the spokesperson for the Imole Campaign Council, Pelumi Olajengbesi, in a post shared on his verified Facebook page. The council is responsible for coordinating Governor Ademola Adeleke’s re-election campaign.
Reacting to the development, Olajengbesi expressed gratitude to the Inspector-General of Police and the Osun State Commissioner of Police for approving Igbalaye’s release despite what he described as pressure surrounding the case.
He wrote:
“We sincerely appreciate the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, for listening to the voice of reason despite pressure and for responding to the people’s demand regarding the unlawful arrest of the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Igbalaye Teslim.»
The Nigerian Police Force best serves the nation when it stands against oppression and upholds justice and the rule of law. Welcome back, Chief Igbalaye Teslim. Your courage and sacrifice for the people of Osun State will not be forgotten.”
The spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Abiodun Ojelabi, also confirmed that the SSG had been released.
Igbalaye was arrested on Wednesday alongside five other individuals after police officers carried out a raid on his residence based on intelligence reports.
According to the police, one of those arrested, Oladele Abiodun, was a wanted suspect already on the command’s watchlist. The other suspects were identified as Akande Taiwo, Adeyemo Lukman, Olaoye Muftau and Aderemi Musliu.
During the operation, officers recovered N4,810,500 in cash, a Dynabook laptop, a photocopy machine, a printer, two Permanent Voter Cards and a voter register covering Wards 1 to 15.
Police said the recovered items have been taken into custody for forensic examination as investigations continue.
The command added that investigators are probing possible electoral offences, including alleged vote-buying under the Electoral Act 2022, criminal conspiracy and the alleged harbouring of a wanted suspect.
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