-
Recounts Ordeal with Police Commissioner
- Safiu Kehinde
The Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Adewale Egbedun, has accused the state’s Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Gotan, of orchestrating the raid and arrest of the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, after being booed by crowd at the stakeholders’ meeting held on Wednesday.
NPO Reported that the police operatives had yesterday stormed the residence of Igbalaye where N4 million was recovered alongside voters register and some Permanent Voters Card.
Also allegedly recovered at the house were ammunition and other dangerous weapons.
Further reports disclosed arrest of the SSG and some members of the Accord Party holding a meeting at the residence.
Narrating his account of the incident in a post shared on his X, Egbedun disclosed that he was at the stakeholders’ meeting with Igbalaye and the Police Commissioner.
In what he labelled an abuse of power, the Oyo Speaker alleged that Gotan had initiated the call for the SSG’s arrest after being booed by some participants of the stakeholders’ meeting.
‘The abuse of power by the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Gotan, should be a source of concern and embarrassment to every patriotic Nigerian.
‘The Deputy Governor, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and I were all present at the INEC Stakeholders’ Meeting, where we sat together throughout the proceedings.
‘We all witnessed the unfortunate moment when Commissioner Gotan was booed while on the podium by citizens of Osun State. Immediately he returned to his seat, he looked directly towards us. At that moment, the SSG laughed.
‘The next thing I observed was Commissioner Gotan picking up his telephone and making a series of calls.
‘From what I saw, I turned to the SSG and said, “The Commissioner of Police has just ordered your arrest.”
‘A few minutes later, the SSG received a telephone call informing him that police officers were waiting for him at his residence.’ Egbedun said.
The lawmaker further narrated how the Igbaloye left the meeting and later informed him of being invited by the State Criminal Investigation Department over the money and voters’ cards discovered at his residence.
‘He immediately stood up and left the event, leaving the Deputy Governor and me behind. Some minutes later, I contacted him to find out what had happened.
‘He informed me that he had been invited to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) because the police allegedly recovered N4 million and two voter cards belonging to members of his political party who were holding a meeting within his compound.
‘I honestly do not understand how such an allegation justified inviting, or attempting to arrest, a public official of his standing.’ The Osun Speaker said.
Egbedun also recounted his personal ordeal with the Osun Police Commissioner.
He narrated how Gotan had withdrew every officer, including his orderly, attached to him amid reports of planned attack on his residence by suspected thugs allegedly affiliated to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Egbedun recalled challenging the police chief over the withdrawal of the officers.
‘Permit me to also recount a personal experience I had with Commissioner Gotan so that the public can better understand my concerns.
‘At one point, we received credible intelligence that some APC thugs were planning to attack my residence. My security personnel and I remained on high alert in anticipation of the attack.
‘However, to my greatest surprise, my police orderly received a call from Commissioner Gotan directing that every police officer attached to me should report to his office for questioning that very day.
‘I immediately telephoned the Commissioner and told him that I am a proud son of Onikoyi, and that I neither fear nor bow to intimidation.
‘I made it abundantly clear that I would never abandon my state or my ancestral home because of anyone, particularly someone I regard as a stranger.
‘I also reminded him that, ultimately, every act of wrongdoing attracts its own consequences.’ He said.
Egbedun decried the activities of the police in the state under Gotan’s leadership, alleging that the officers have caused significant disruption in the state, including alleged plot to implicate and arrest him.
‘In my view, Commissioner Gotan and some officers under his command have caused significant disruption in Osun State, and I sincerely believe he does not deserve to continue serving in our dear state.
‘For the past two weeks, I have received information suggesting that some of his officers have been moving around, allegedly planning and strategising on how to implicate and arrest me.
‘Indeed, many people have advised me to leave Osun State or vacate my residence for my own safety.
‘However, I have consistently maintained that I will not abandon Osun for anyone. If those behind these alleged plans decide to carry them out, I remain resolute in my belief that justice will ultimately prevail and that evil will never triumph over righteousness.’ He said.
Egbedun called for the intervention of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, over the Gotan’s leadership of the Osun Police Command.
‘I, therefore, make a sincere appeal to the Inspector General of Police to urgently intervene and relieve the people of Osun State of what I consider the hardship and intimidation they have endured under the leadership of Commissioner Ibrahim Gotan.
‘The people of Osun are peaceful, law-abiding citizens who deserve policing that is professional, impartial and respectful of the rule of law.’ He added.