A Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has ordered the arrest of the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Seun Osamaye, over allegations of assault against Chief Magistrate Temitope Alphonso.
According to the charge, the alleged assault occurred within the premises of the Ministry of Women Affairs while Magistrate Alphonso was on official assignment with the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, in the presence of staff.
In her supporting affidavit, Magistrate Alphonso averred that the incident followed a judgment she had earlier delivered which was unfavourable to the commissioner. She alleged that Mrs. Osamaye verbally abused and physically assaulted her.
The affidavit further stated:
– “When I asked her to stop cursing, the defendant told me to shut up, saying I was merely a Magistrate, and that even the Chief Judge of Ondo State could not speak when she was talking.”
– “She warned me to watch my back, claiming she had the apparatus to make me go missing if I was not careful, beating her chest while issuing the threat.”
– “She added that by the time she was finished with me, not even the Governor of Ondo State nor the Chief Judge could rescue me.”
At the hearing, the commissioner failed to appear. Her counsel, Barrister Adewusi, informed the court that she was receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Ilara‑Mokin and requested a stand‑down to enable him present evidence of her hospitalization.
Magistrate Damilola Sekoni stood the matter down for one and a half hours. Upon resumption, the defence tendered a medical report, which was challenged by the prosecution as lacking authenticity.
In his ruling, Magistrate Sekoni rejected the medical report, describing it as unsatisfactory since it failed to establish that the commissioner was admitted or medically unfit to attend court. The report omitted critical details such as date and time of admission, leading the prosecution to describe it as hastily prepared and possibly forged.
Citing the commissioner’s disregard for the authority of the court, Magistrate Sekoni ordered her arrest and remand in prison custody. The matter was adjourned to 12 January for further proceedings.
As at press time, the Ondo State Government had not issued an official statement on the development.
