On Thursday, August 21, 2014, the Osun state police force arraigned a 22-year old man for posing as a police officer with the Department of State Service (DSS).
The suspect, Aladegolu Victor, who was arraigned before an Osogbo magistrate court was said to have committed the crime during the Saturday, August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election in Osun state where he was arrested.
Victor, who was arrested at Ile-Ife area of Osun pleaded guilty on the 2-count charge leveled against him by the Osun state commissioner of police.
Premium Times reports:
According to the charge sheet, the accused, in company with others now at large, presented himself as a personnel of the DSS at a polling unit in Ile-Ife City Hall area.
The suspect and others at large were arrested at about 12:05 p.m., as they terrorised members of the public, an offence contrary and punishable under section 517 of the state criminal law 2003.
The suspect and others were alleged to be wearing black T-shirts with the inscription “Police” in front and “DSS” behind”.
It added that the suspect committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 109 of the State Penal Code.
A prosecutor for the state, Biodun Badiora, while announcing his appearance, said the Attorney General of the state is taking over the matter from the police to ensure diligent prosecution.
The defence counsel, Nnenna Ngwu, did not object to the application by the state to take over prosecution from the Police, stating that the court has been saved the rigour of a stretched trial with the suspect pleading guilty to the two-count charge against him.
In rejecting the bail application for the suspect, Magistrate Olusola Aluko urged the defence counsel to apply for bail formally.
Mr. Aluko also ordered that the accused person be remanded in prison custody.
The magistrate then adjourned the matter till Friday, September 12, 2014 for hearing.
The suspect was arrested and detained Police custody before the poll but was initially released by Police. He was later re-arrested.
Both the Osun state government and the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress [APC] had before and during the election raised the alarm over the presence of hoodlums impersonating men of the Nigerian Army, the Police, DSS and other security agencies.
The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Atahiru Jega, a professor, on Wednesday confirmed that the Osun election was nearly rigged while also condemning the presence of hooded security agents as well.
