The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene over the conduct of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan.
This is as Governor Adeleke alleged the Osun police boss of recent arrests and detentions in the state.
The governor specifically demanded the immediate and unconditional release of one of his aides, Abiodun Adegoke Apesin, whom he said had been unlawfully detained following a defamation petition linked to the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Oyebamiji.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Monday, Governor Adeleke described the continued detention of Apesin as a violation of his fundamental human rights.
He also noted that the alleged offence was non-capital and bailable under Nigerian law.
The governor expressed concern that bail had allegedly been denied on two occasions despite compliance with police conditions, including the presentation of senior civil servants as sureties.
He described the situation as “an unacceptable partisan conduct by the state police command. We question the rationale behind the refusal to grant bail or arraign the detainee before a court of law.
“One of my aides, Mr Adegoke, has been detained for more than five days now. He has not been charged to court, and he has been refused bail on two occasions. That is a fundamental breach of the law and the Constitution.”
Governor Adeleke also alleged a decline in professionalism within the Osun Police Command since the assumption of office by the current Commissioner of Police.
“Police now detain for as long as they want without granting bail or charging suspects to court,” he said.
He also recalled the previous arrest of another aide, Iyiola Monsuru, stating that both aides were arrested without formal police invitations being extended to them.
The governor warned that “the police should not be perceived as serving the interests of any political party. Impartiality and non-partisanship are essential to maintaining peace and security in the state.”
He urged the IGP to direct the Osun State Police Commissioner to ensure the immediate release of Apesin and to halt the harassment of media aides operating within the law.
However, responding, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Osun State Police Command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said Adegoke has been admitted to bail.
Ojelabi, who absolved the commissioner of police of blame regarding the handling of the matter, said the command had carried out an investigation into the allegations against Adegoke and would file charges against him before the Federal High Court.
“The police will file charges before the Federal High Court, Osogbo, and the court will pronounce a date for arraignment.
“He will be admitted to bail today once his sureties come to the station.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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