Justice Commissioner Condemns Raid On Osun SSG’s Residence…Poses 6 Questions To Police
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Osun State, Hon Oluwole Jimi-Bada, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has condemned the raid carried on Hon Teslim Igbalaiye’s residence in Osogbo, Osun State capital on Wednesday while posing six questions to the state police command.
Recall that Hon Teslim Igbalaiye, who is the Secretary to the State Government of Osun State, was detained by the police after carrying out a raid on his residence on Wednesday but he was later released on Thursday afternoon.
Presiding over a press conference in Osogbo on Thursday which was attended by journalists including Team@orientactualmags.com Hon Oluwole Jimi-Bada accused the police of unprofessional conduct.
‘The matter concerns the raid reportedly carried out on the residence of the Secretary to the State Government of Osun State by members of the Nigeria Police Force and the arrest of some persons found on the premises, and the subsequent detention of the Secretary to the State Government after he voluntarily reported at the police Headquarters.
Let me begin by making one point absolutely clear: the Government of Osun State recognizes the constitutional role of the Nigeria Police Force. We do not oppose lawful investigation. We do not support criminality. We do not shield anyone who is properly suspected of committing an offence. Nobody is above the law.
However, it must be said with equal firmness that the law is also above every institution, including the police. Law enforcement must be carried out with fairness, neutrality, restraint, and strict compliance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
From the information available to the Government of Osun State, the Secretary to the State Government was not at home when his residence was raided. He was not arrested at the place. He did not flee. He did not evade the police. Upon being informed that persons had been arrested at his residence, he voluntarily proceeded to the police Headquarters to assist the process and to seek administrative bail for those who were arrested.
It is therefore shocking that a senior public official who voluntarily submitted himself to law enforcement authorities, not as a fugitive but as a responsible citizen, was subsequently detained.
This is a matter of serious concern. If a citizen who voluntarily goes to the police to assist an inquiry can be turned into a detainee without clear and credible grounds, then every citizen is at risk’ he said.
The Justice Commissioner also posed six questions to the police and other authorities.
‘’Why was the residence of the Secretary to the State Government raided in this manner?
Why was the Secretary to the State Government detained after he voluntarily went to the police Headquarters?
Why is an allegation of vote-buying being made in relation to an event that occurred on 29th July, 2026, when the governorship election is scheduled to hold on 15th August, 2026?
Why is the possession of electoral register already released by INEC to political parties, being presented in a manner that may mislead the public?
Why are PVCs allegedly belonging to persons present at the residence being treated as though their mere existence establishes a crime?
Why is an alleged previous offence by one person being used to cast suspicion on another person without clear legal basis?’ he submitted.
While noting that the Office of the Attorney-General will not support any act of violence, electoral malpractice, voter inducement, or breach of public peace by any person or party, he however added, that ‘if any individual has committed an offence, such an individual should be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law’.
‘But what we will not accept is selective enforcement. We will not accept media trial. We will not accept the criminalisation of lawful political association. We will not accept the detention of citizens without clear legal justification. We will not accept a situation where allegations are shifted from one ground to another in search of justification after the fact.
The constitutional rights of every person arrested must be respected. They are entitled to be informed promptly of the reason for their arrest. They are entitled to legal representation. They are entitled to humane treatment. They are entitled to be brought before a court within the time prescribed by the Constitution if the police believe there is a case against them’ he submitted.
Hon Oluwole Jimi-Bada also demanded the release of all persons arrested at Hon Teslim’s residence unless the police are prepared to bring them to trial within the constitutionally prescribed period.
‘We call on the police to disclose, in clear terms, the specific offence alleged against each person arrested. The law does not permit indiscriminate suspicion. Each person’s case must be treated individually.
We call on the police to clarify the allegation regarding the PVCs reportedly recorded, including whether the PVCs belonged to the persons present or whether there is any evidence of unlawful possession.
We call on the police to clarify whether the electoral register allegedly found was not part of materials already released by INEC to political parties for legitimate electoral purposes.
We call on INEC, civil society organisations, election observers, the Nigerian Bar Association, the National Human Rights Commission, and all lovers of democracy to pay close attention to this matter and to the general conduct of security agencies ahead of the 15th August 2026 governorship election in Osun State.
Democracy is not protected by intimidation. Democracy is protected by law. Democracy is not strengthened when state power is used in a manner that creates fear. It is strengthened when institutions act with neutrality, professionalism, and respect for constitutional rights’ he added-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
