Stakeholders rally behind Ondo Women Affairs Commissioner amid court order
By Boye Oyeyemi –
A civil society organisation, Concerned Stakeholders for Women Development in Ondo State, has declared support for the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Seun Osamaye, calling for calm and respect for due process following a court order linked to an alleged altercation with a magistrate.
The group, made up of women advocates, community leaders and development organisations, warned against sensationalising the matter, saying such actions could erode public confidence in the judiciary and cast the state government in a bad light.
Addressing journalists in Akure, the coordinator of the group, Mrs Omowumi Adekunle-Falade, said the issue should be handled responsibly, stressing that allegations remain unproven until determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
She noted that Osamaye’s record in office reflects sustained efforts at protecting women and children, promoting gender inclusion and strengthening social welfare programmes across the state.
The group’s position followed reports that a Magistrate’s Court in Akure ordered the arrest of the commissioner over an alleged assault involving Chief Magistrate Temitope Alphonso, said to have occurred during an official engagement at the Ministry of Women Affairs.
Court filings indicated that the commissioner was absent during proceedings, with her counsel informing the court that she was receiving medical treatment, a claim later disputed by the prosecution, leading the court to order her arrest and adjourn the case to January 12.
Reacting to the development, the stakeholders urged all parties to allow the legal process to run its course, appealed to the public to avoid speculation, and called for peace, restraint and respect for the rule of law in the interest of Ondo State’s stability.
