Governor accuses police of ‘partisan conduct’,

demands immediate release of detained aide

On Monday, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, fired a stinging warning to the state Police Command, calling on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene over what he described as “unlawful arrests and systematic harassment” of his aides.

The governor specifically demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Abiodun Adegoke Apesin, detained for several days without charge over a defamation petition involving the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

In a statement issued in Osogbo, Adeleke described the continued detention of his aide as “a fundamental breach of the law and the constitution,” noting that the alleged offence is non-capital and bailable under Nigerian 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 unacceptable,” the governor said, condemning what he called “partisan conduct by the state police command since Mr Gothan assumed office as CP.”

Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the governor’s spokesperson, stressed that the police should be impartial and non-partisan, warning that allowing political influence to guide arrests would undermine peace and security in Osun State.

“The police command should not give the impression that it serves the political interests of APC and its chieftains. They must operate within the law and respect citizens’ rights,” Rasheed added.