There is seeming controversy over the alleged fake kidnap of one the media aides to Governor Ademola Adeleke in Osun, named Shakiru Babatunde, as the state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) and government disagreed over the circumstances surrounding the incident.

However, Police had refrained from confirming the incident as the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abiodun Ojelabi, said he had yet to get details on the incident.

While the APC in a statement alleged that Babatunde’s abduction was orchestrated to heat up the polity and blamed the opposition, Adeleke in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, dismissed reported claim that his Chief of Staff (COS), Alhaji Akinleye was attempting to cover up Police investigation into the matter.

The APC In a statement by its director of media and information, Kola Olabisi, noted that Babatunde’s arrest had been publicised by other officials of the state government through their individual social media handles, shifting the blame on the opposition as being responsible for the supposed abduction.

According to him, “Babatunde and his accomplices in the staged kidnapping saga when he was apprehended in his hideout by the officers of the Nigeria Police attached to Dugbe Divisional Police in Osogbo and was taken to custody where he confessed to the crime.”

However, Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, described as untrue APC’s allegation that his principal’s Chief of Staff, Akinleye was attempting to stop Police investigation into the incident.

He disclosed that the state government actually reported the incident, saying reported claims that the COS attempted to bribe Police was unfounded and baseless conjectures.

“Nobody in the government is attempting to bribe the police and the police have not received any kobo from state officials as libelously asserted in a publication.

“The police are currently investigating the matter while the state government is also waiting for the outcome of the investigation for further action.

We therefore call on members of the public to ignore any misinformation designed to tarnish the image of state officials or the police as relevant police units are currently investigating the entire episode, “Olawale posited. (The Guardian)