The Osun State Government has criticised the state Police Command over what it described as the unprofessional and inconsistent handling of recent arrests, raising concerns over due process and transparency.
The government’s position was contained in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, in which it faulted the Police for issuing, deleting and later replacing an official statement on the matter.
According to the statement, the controversy centres on the arrest of Mr. Apesin Abiodun Adegoke and Mr. Iyiola Monsuru. The government said the Police initially claimed that the petition leading to the arrests was submitted by Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, a claim it described as false.
The state government maintained that available records showed the petition was actually written by Mr. Arimiyau Owoade, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in Irewole Local Government Area, over statements allegedly made against the APC candidate in the area.
The government also disputed the Police description of the arrests as mere “invitations,” insisting that both men were taken into custody without any prior invitation. It further faulted the Police’s account of Mr. Adegoke’s arrest, noting that he was picked up on January 7 at his mechanic workshop, which the Police later referred to as his “hideout.”
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Allegations by the Police that Mr. Adegoke confessed to the offence or pleaded for leniency were also denied by the state government, which challenged the Command to provide evidence to support such claims.
The statement further noted that Mr. Adegoke remained in detention until the late hours of January 12, contradicting the Police’s earlier claim that he was arraigned on January 9. The government described the arraignment claim as false.
It added that legal counsel to Mr. Adegoke applied for administrative bail on January 8, but received no response from the Police until a reminder was sent, after which bail was eventually granted.
The Osun State Government called on the Police Command to adhere strictly to professional standards and due process, warning that actions capable of undermining public confidence in law enforcement should be avoided.
