A Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has ordered the arrest of the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Seun Osamaye, over an alleged verbal attack and physical assault on a Chief Magistrate, Mrs Temitope Alphonso.
The alleged incident reportedly occurred within the premises of the Ministry of Women Affairs while the magistrate was on official assignment alongside the ministry’s Permanent Secretary and staff.
In an affidavit attached to the charge sheet, Magistrate Alphonso stated that the assault stemmed from a judgment she had earlier delivered, which was said to be unfavourable to the commissioner.
She alleged that the commissioner hurled insults at her, threatened her safety, and physically assaulted her during the encounter.
Part of the affidavit read:
“When I asked her to stop cursing, the defendant told me to shut up and called me a mere magistrate, adding that even the Chief Judge of Ondo State cannot speak when she is talking.
She warned me to watch my back and claimed she had the apparatus to make me go missing. She also boasted that neither the Governor nor the Chief Judge would be able to rescue me when she is done with me.”
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the commissioner failed to appear in court. Her counsel, Barrister Adewusi, informed the court that she was receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Ilara-Mokin and requested additional time to tender supporting medical documents.
Magistrate Damilola Sekoni granted a stand-down for one and a half hours to enable the defence to present the report.
Upon resumption, a medical report was tendered but was rejected after the prosecution faulted its authenticity.
In his ruling, Magistrate Sekoni held that the document was unsatisfactory, noting that it did not indicate whether the commissioner was admitted or medically unfit to attend court, nor did it contain details of time and date of admission.
He described the commissioner’s actions as a deliberate disregard for the court and subsequently ordered her arrest and remand in prison custody.
The case was adjourned till January 12 for further hearing.
As of press time, the Ondo State Government had yet to issue an official reaction to the development.
Credit: Crest FM