Rep Salam Condemns Harassment of Osun Council Worker, Accuses Police of Complicity
A member of the House of Representatives, Bamidele Salam has condemned the alleged harassment, unlawful detention and public humiliation of a local government worker in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State, describing the involvement of the Nigeria Police Force as shameful and unconstitutional.
Salam, who represents Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo Federal Constituency, reacted to a viral video and photographs circulating on social media showing a council employee, Mr Taiwo Adebayo, being detained and allegedly humiliated by politicians in the presence of police officers.
In a statement in Abuja, the lawmaker accused certain politicians, allegedly backed by the police, of abusing power and undermining the rule of law in Osun State’s local government administration.
According to Salam, investigations revealed that Adebayo, an administrative officer of Egbedore Local Government was lawfully at work, following a directive by the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) to resume duties after an 11-month strike.
He explained that the officer was handling official files related to the retirement of local government staff and was acting strictly on the instructions of his superiors.
Salam alleged that the politician seen in the video supervising Adebayo’s detention was Mr Issa Akinwale, a former council chairman who had been removed from office by judgments of both the Federal High Court, Osogbo, and the Court of Appeal, Akure.
He accused Akinwale and other sacked officials of illegally occupying council secretariat with the active conivance of the police.
“The dehumanising treatment of Mr Adebayo in the presence of law enforcement agents, supervised by the Divisional Police Officer of Egbedore Local Government, is despicable, condemnable and outrightly unconstitutional,” Salam said.
The lawmaker called for the immediate release of the detained worker and demanded a public apology from the Nigeria Police Force.
He also urged the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to withdraw police officers from what he described as illegal duties in Osun State local government secretariat and to enforce existing court judgments.
Salam warned that continued police involvement in partisan political activities at the grassroots poses a serious threat to democracy, judicial authority and citizens’ rights.
