Maroc - VERACITY.COM.NG - A La Une - 02/Jan 15:23

Group seeks amicable resolution in Osamaye–Magistrate face-off

A civil society organisation, the Upline Centre for Development, has called for an amicable resolution of the legal dispute involving the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Seun Osamaye, and a Chief Magistrate, Temitope Alphonso. The group urged restraint from all parties, stressing the need to balance respect for the independence and dignity of the judiciary with the responsibility of the executive arm to protect public servants delivering critical social services. In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Alo Martins, the organisation said the matter required a thorough and fair investigation to establish the full facts surrounding the incident. While acknowledging the importance of due process, the group said it was necessary to understand the circumstances that led to the incident, including the events preceding it and what transpired during the magistrate’s visit. The organisation also highlighted the track record of the commissioner, noting that since March 2025, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development had recorded 59 major milestones aimed at supporting vulnerable groups across the state. According to the group, beneficiaries of the ministry’s interventions include over 10,000 girl children, about 1,000 low-income women, 500 farmers, 400 widows and 200 small-scale traders, as well as more than 3,000 elderly persons who reportedly received free medical care. It added that abandoned children and persons living with disabilities had also benefited from rehabilitation programmes. The group argued that Osamaye’s years of service to vulnerable populations should be considered in handling the matter, insisting that any action taken must be proportionate to established facts rather than preliminary allegations. It warned that disruptions to the ministry’s operations could negatively affect thousands of residents who depend on its programmes. The organisation called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to intervene by ensuring that the commissioner is granted a fair hearing, facilitating dialogue between the parties and safeguarding ongoing social intervention programmes while justice runs its course. It also appealed to the judiciary to allow all parties to fully present their accounts and to explore alternative dispute resolution mechanisms where appropriate. The group urged both sides to embrace dialogue and reconciliation, noting that the dispute has wider implications for vulnerable citizens who rely on effective government services. According to the organisation, justice would best be served through a process that is thorough, fair and complete, adding that it remained open to supporting efforts aimed at resolving the matter amicably.