Gov Adeleke denies sheltering criminals, urges arrest of offenders

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has declared that security agencies should arrest anyone involved in criminal activities, including members of his family.

This is as Governor Adeleke denied allegations that criminal suspects were being harboured at the Government House in Osogbo.

The governor made the remarks on Friday while receiving the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, during a courtesy visit to the Government House, following claims that some wanted suspects were allegedly taking refuge within the premises.

Governor Adeleke rejected the allegation that his administration was shielding criminals and insisted that anyone found to have committed an offence should face the law, irrespective of their relationship with him.

“If you see any of my people that committed a crime, arrest them. If it is my son who committed a crime, arrest him, let him learn his lesson, and that is what I am saying in front of the IGP,” the governor said.

Adeleke, however, accused some police officers of acting improperly in the discharge of their duties, citing the alleged transfer of an officer who arrested a suspect linked to the killing of a 14-year-old boy in Ilobu.

“But for you to be playing all these games and everything like that, the person that they killed, a 14-year-old boy in Ilobu, because the police officer did a good job under the directive of the Inspector General of Police and arrested the suspect that killed the boy, you transferred the officer,” he said.

The governor commended the Inspector-General for publicly pledging to address indiscipline within the Nigeria Police Force and urged officers to remain professional and impartial in carrying out their responsibilities.

“I am glad the Inspector General of Police is here today, and he has said it openly that he will not tolerate any act of indiscipline, and he has given you a warning that you will not tolerate crime. That is why I am happy.

“If you change tomorrow, I will continue to cooperate with the police. Police is our friend. We are not fighting the police, but you have to do right,” he said.

Earlier, the Inspector-General disclosed that the Osun State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, had briefed him that some suspects being sought by the police were allegedly hiding in the Government House.

Addressing the governor, Disu said he had also received complaints from various quarters regarding the performance of the Osun State Commissioner of Police.

“If I tell you, sir, that I have not had complaints, I have lied, and I will explain everything to you one by one, sir.

“He, too, has briefed me. He briefed me that some suspects he is looking for are hibernating in the Government House. I looked at that. If that is true, why should suspects be in the Government House?,” Disu said.

The Inspector-General said he had advised the Commissioner of Police on how to handle the matter, adding that he had also received reports alleging that different political groups were harbouring criminal suspects.

“I have told him how to go about it. I have heard that this party and that party are hibernating suspects, criminals,” Disu said.