RismadarVoice Reporters
July 31, 2026
The Osun State Government has demanded the immediate release of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), accusing the Nigeria Police Force of arbitrary detention and warning against actions that could undermine public confidence ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Oluwole Jimi-Bada (SAN), made the demand on Thursday during a press conference in Osogbo, where he questioned the legality of the police raid on the SSG’s residence and the circumstances surrounding his subsequent detention.
Jimi-Bada said the government was not opposed to lawful investigations or the prosecution of criminal offences but insisted that law enforcement agencies must operate within the limits of the Constitution and uphold the principles of fairness, neutrality and due process.
According to him, the SSG was not at home when police officers raided his residence and arrested some individuals. He stated that the state government’s position was that the official had voluntarily reported to the Force Headquarters after learning of the arrests to assist investigators and seek administrative bail for those detained, only to be taken into custody himself.
The Attorney-General described the development as disturbing, arguing that detaining a public official who willingly presented himself to law enforcement authorities without evidence of evasion raises serious concerns about citizens’ constitutional rights.
He disputed reports linking those arrested to vote-buying, noting that the incident occurred on July 29, more than two weeks before the scheduled governorship election on August 15.
Jimi-Bada maintained that political parties are legally entitled to organise meetings, mobilise supporters and make logistical arrangements for campaigns, provided such activities comply with the law.
He also dismissed suggestions that the recovery of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and copies of the voters’ register at the residence constituted evidence of electoral offences, stressing that political parties lawfully possess voters’ registers released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for election planning.
The Attorney-General challenged the police to disclose any credible evidence linking the SSG or those arrested to voter inducement, insisting that allegations of vote-buying must be supported by verifiable facts rather than speculation.
On reports that one of the arrested persons was wanted over an earlier offence, Jimi-Bada argued that criminal responsibility is personal and cannot be extended to the owner of a premises merely because a suspect was found there.
He said there was no legal basis for treating the SSG as a suspect without credible evidence directly connecting him to any alleged crime.
The Attorney-General raised a series of questions over the police operation, including why the SSG’s residence was raided, why he was detained after voluntarily reporting to investigators, and why activities that occurred weeks before the election were being linked to alleged vote-buying.
He warned that security agencies must remain impartial and avoid actions capable of creating the impression of political bias as Osun prepares for the governorship election.
While reaffirming the state government’s opposition to electoral malpractice, violence and voter inducement, Jimi-Bada said it would resist what he described as selective enforcement of the law, arbitrary detention and the criminalisation of lawful political activities.
He called on the Inspector-General of Police to review the circumstances surrounding the operation and ensure that the Nigeria Police Force is not perceived as a partisan institution in the state’s political process.
The Attorney-General further demanded the immediate release of the SSG unless the police possess credible evidence linking him to a specific offence, and urged the police to either release other detainees or arraign them before a court within the constitutional time limit.
He also called on INEC, the Nigerian Bar Association, the National Human Rights Commission, civil society organisations and election observers to closely monitor the conduct of security agencies before and during the August 15 governorship election.
