The Governor made this statement during a courtesy visit from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, at the Government House in Osogbo. During the meeting, Governor Adeleke addressed claims raised by the IGP—based on information from the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan—that certain criminal suspects were allegedly seeking refuge within the Government House.

In response, Governor Adeleke:

• Denied any involvement in protecting criminal suspects.

• Challenged security agencies to arrest any individual found to be culpable, regardless of their status or relationship to the governor.

• Publicly stated to the IGP, “If it is my son who committed a crime, arrest him, let him learn his lesson.”

Critique of Police Conduct

While pledging his support for law enforcement, Governor Adeleke accused certain police officers of “playing games” with their duties. He highlighted a specific case involving the killing of a 14-year-old boy in Ilobu, claiming that a police officer who successfully arrested a suspect in the case was subsequently transferred.

Call for Professionalism

Governor Adeleke praised IGP Disu’s public commitment to curbing indiscipline within the Nigeria Police Force. He urged police officers in Osun State to uphold professionalism, fairness, and impartiality. The Governor concluded by affirming that his administration is prepared to cooperate with the police, provided that officers perform their duties correctly and ethically.

The Kwara State Government alleges that on or about April 17, 2026, Saraki published and circulated statements on social media and in newspapers that contained derogatory, abusive, and insulting language directed at Governor AbdulRazaq. Specifically, the prosecution contends that Saraki falsely claimed the governor lacked a secondary school education, arguing that these remarks were made to insult or provoke the governor and the state government, potentially threatening public peace. Under Section 399 of the Kwara State Penal Code (2006), these actions are considered criminal offences.

Legal Arguments and Court Ruling

Saraki’s legal counsel, led by Jimoh Mumeen (SAN), filed a motion seeking to have the charges dismissed. The defense raised seven primary arguments, including:

• Claims of improper service of documents.

• Challenges regarding the court’s jurisdiction to try the case.

• Assertions that the court process was being abused.

The prosecution, led by Rafiu Balogun, opposed these arguments, labeling the application as frivolous and lacking merit.

In his ruling, Justice M.O. Folorunsho rejected all seven of the defendant’s arguments:

• The judge affirmed that the court possesses the necessary territorial jurisdiction to hear the case.

• The court dismissed the claim that the legal action was politically motivated, stating that a review of the charge sheet and evidence provided no support for such an assertion.

• While the court noted it could dispense with the defendant’s physical appearance during this interlocutory stage, it refused the request to defer the arraignment, officially adjourning the matter to July 22, 2026.

Atiku’s critique centers on the perceived lack of institutional credibility regarding the government’s current explanation of the scandal:

• Implausible Narrative: Atiku criticized the Presidency’s account—provided by Bayo Onanuga—as illogical, questioning how one individual (Adeniyi Adeyemi) could unilaterally secure government office space, conduct high-level meetings with foreign delegations, and process official staff salaries without internal collaboration or negligence.

• Systemic Failure: He emphasized that while Adeyemi should face legal consequences if guilty, the government must address how such an operation bypassed standard institutional oversight.

• Budgetary and Civil Service Inconsistencies: Atiku highlighted that the PFIPC reportedly appeared in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a multi-billion naira budget, and that the Office of the Head of the Civil Service allegedly approved the recruitment of over 300 staff members, both of which are structured processes that cannot occur by accident.

The Demand for Accountability

Atiku argued that the Presidency cannot deflect blame onto a single individual while ignoring the structural systems that facilitated the alleged fraud. Given that Adeyemi has denied the allegations and claimed that influential figures are attempting to silence him, Atiku contends that an independent inquiry is urgently required. He concluded by warning that failure to launch a comprehensive investigation would lead to public perception of “complicity by silence” on the part of the President.