CSO calls for dialogue in Ondo commissioner-magistrate legal row

By Boye Oyeyemi –

A civil society organisation, the Upline Centre for Development, has called for dialogue and restraint in the legal dispute involving the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Seun Osamaye, and Chief Magistrate Temitope Alphonso.

The group also warned that the ongoing issue between the two has wider implications for governance and social welfare in the state.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Alo Martins, the group said it respected the independence of the judiciary and the need to uphold due process, stressing that the dignity of judicial officers must be protected within Nigeria’s democratic system.

The organisation also acknowledged the role of the executive arm, noting that public officials in social development ministries play a crucial role in delivering services to vulnerable groups across the state.

It highlighted the performance of the Women Affairs Ministry under Osamaye since March 2025, claiming the ministry had recorded 59 major interventions, including empowerment programmes for over 10,000 girls, support for low-income women, widows, and female farmers, as well as free medical outreach for more than 3,000 vulnerable persons.

The group said its preliminary assessment showed that aspects of the incident required clearer context and fuller investigation, adding that justice could only be served if all parties were allowed to present their accounts and evidence without prejudice.

It urged Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to intervene by facilitating dialogue, ensuring a fair hearing for the commissioner, and safeguarding the continuity of social programmes relied upon by thousands of citizens.

The organisation appealed to the judiciary and other stakeholders to consider alternative dispute resolution and reconciliation, insisting that the dispute should not disrupt public service or harm the vulnerable people who depend on government interventions.