Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has accused the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gothan, of ordering the illegal detention of one of his aides, Abiodun Adegoke, and repeatedly denying him bail over a petition allegedly linked to the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
The governor has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene and compel the Osun State Police Command to respect Adegoke’s fundamental human rights.
However, the Osun State Police Command has dismissed the allegations, insisting that Adegoke has been granted bail and that investigations into the petition against him have been concluded.
In a statement signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, and obtained in Osogbo on Monday, Adeleke said Adegoke had been detained for more than five days without being charged to court, describing the action as unconstitutional.
“One of my aides, Mr Adegoke, has been detained for more than five days. He has not been charged to court and has been refused bail on two occasions. This is a fundamental breach of the law and the Constitution,” the governor said.
Adeleke further accused the police command of a decline in professionalism since Gothan assumed office, alleging that the prolonged detention of his aide was politically motivated.
“The Osun Police Command appears to be losing its sense of professionalism. Detentions are now carried out based on verbal petitions or instructions from opposition political leaders, with little regard for the rights of citizens,” he added.
The governor demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Adegoke and an end to what he described as harassment of his media aides. He also recalled that another aide, Iyiola Monsuru, had earlier been detained under similar circumstances.
“Both aides were arrested without any formal police invitation. The command must not conduct itself in a manner that suggests it is serving the political interests of the APC and its chieftains. The police must remain impartial and non-partisan,” Adeleke said.
Responding to the allegations, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abiodun Ojelabi, absolved the commissioner of any wrongdoing, stating that investigations into the matter had been completed.
“The police will file charges, after which the court will fix a date for arraignment. He will be admitted to bail once his sureties report to the station,” Ojelabi said, insisting that due process had been followed.
