Court Orders Arrest Of Ondo Women Affairs Commissioner Over Alleged Assault

An Akure Magistrate’s Court has ordered the arrest and remand of the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Seun Osamaye, following allegations that she assaulted a Chief Magistrate, Temitope Alphonso.

According to Ireporter Online, the alleged incident took place within the premises of the Ondo State Ministry of Women Affairs, where the magistrate was said to be carrying out an official assignment. Law enforcement authorities subsequently filed a charge of assault against the commissioner, accusing her of both verbal and physical abuse reportedly triggered by a court decision she considered unfavourable.

At the court sitting on Wednesday, Osamaye was not physically present but was represented by her legal counsel, A.K. Adewusi. The lawyer informed the court that the commissioner was receiving medical attention at a hospital in Ilara-Mokin, within Ifedore Local Government Area of the state.

Counsel requested a 90-minute stand-down to enable him present a medical report to justify her absence, a request the court approved. When proceedings resumed, a medical document was submitted, indicating that the commissioner was undergoing treatment.

However, the prosecution, led by Suleiman Adebayo, objected to the authenticity and reliability of the medical report. In his ruling, the presiding magistrate, Damilola Sekoni, dismissed the document, stating that it failed to demonstrate that the commissioner was admitted or medically unfit to appear in court.

The magistrate further observed that the report did not clearly state the date or time of the alleged hospital admission, describing it as inadequate and unconvincing. Citing what he termed a lack of respect for the court process, Magistrate Sekoni ordered the immediate arrest of the commissioner and directed that she be remanded in a correctional facility.

The case was thereafter adjourned to January 12 for further proceedings.