BREAKING NEWS: Adeleke, Osun police Fight over aide’s detention

 

Adeleke, Osun police Fight over aide’s detention

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has accused the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gothan, of ordering the illegal detention of his aide, Abiodun Adegoke, and repeatedly denying him bail over a petition linked to the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.

The governor has consequently urged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene and compel the Osun State Police Command to respect Adegoke’s fundamental rights.

However, the Osun State Police Command dismissed the allegation, 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, Governor Adeleke said Adegoke had been detained for more than five days without being charged to court, describing the action as a violation of the Constitution.

“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 declining 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 the harassment of his media aides, noting 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.

Reacting to the allegations, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, absolved the commissioner of any wrongdoing, saying investigations had been completed and charges would be filed against Adegoke at the Federal High Court, Osogbo.

“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.