Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has accused the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ibrahim Gothan, of ordering the illegal detention of one of his aides, Abiodun Adegoke, and repeatedly denying him bail.
The governor, in a strongly worded statement issued on Monday through his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, called on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene urgently and ensure that Adegoke’s constitutional rights are respected.
Adeleke alleged that his aide had been held in custody for more than five days without being charged to court, describing the action as a clear violation of the law and the 1999 Constitution.
“One of my aides, Mr Adegoke, has been detained for over five days now. 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.
According to Adeleke, Adegoke’s arrest followed a defamation petition he reportedly wrote against the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Oyebamiji. He claimed the detention was politically motivated and part of a broader pattern of harassment against his media aides.
“The Osun Police Command appears to be losing its sense of professionalism since Mr Gothan assumed duty as Commissioner of Police in the state,” Adeleke added.
The governor further alleged that the police now detain suspects arbitrarily without granting bail or promptly charging them to court, often acting on verbal complaints or directives from opposition political figures.
He demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Adegoke and warned against what he described as systematic intimidation of his aides who, according to him, are carrying out their duties within the limits of the law.
Adeleke also recalled a similar incident involving another aide, Iyiola Monsuru, who he said was earlier arrested without a formal police invitation.
“The police must not give the impression that they are serving the political interests of the APC or its chieftains. The Nigeria Police Force should remain impartial, non-partisan, and committed to serving all Nigerians within the framework of the law,” he stated.
Reacting to the allegations, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said Adegoke had since been granted bail. He dismissed claims that the Commissioner of Police acted improperly, insisting that due process was followed.
Ojelabi explained that the police had investigated the allegations against Adegoke and would soon file charges before the Federal High Court in Osogbo.
“The police will file charges before the Federal High Court, Osogbo, and the court will fix a date for arraignment,” he said.
The development has sparked renewed debate over police conduct, political neutrality, and the protection of fundamental human rights as Osun State approaches another critical political season.
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