By Ayodele Oni
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ondo State, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, has faulted an arrest warrant issued on the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Seun Osamaye by a Court in the State.
The State Chief Law Officer maintained that as at this moment, there is no material evidence before the Office of the Attorney General and/or any other person or authority confirming the existence of any written court order or warrant of arrest that has been duly issued and served.
Magistrate Damilola Sekoni had last year issued the warrant of arrest of the commissioner for alleged unruly behaviour to another magistrate.
The commissioner was being accused of an alleged assault of a Chief Magistrate, Mrs Temitope Alphonso, during an official visit to her office.
It was alleged that the commissioner verbally and physically assaulted Magistrate Alphonso at the Ministry of Women Affairs during an official visit by the judicial officer to the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, in the presence of staff.
However since the order was issued, Osamaye has been appearing at a public function alongside Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, in the presence of security agents that are supposed to effect the arrest.
Reacting, Dr Ajulo stressed that what is presently in circulation remains largely speculative and rooted in media narratives rather than in properly extracted and served court processes.
According to him, immediately reports of an alleged order filtered into the public space, the Office of the Attorney General took proactive and responsible steps to apply for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the purported court order, being the only lawful basis upon which advice can be rendered to the Governor and any further constitutional action taken.
“Unfortunately, the day following when the purported order is said to have been given was the 1st of January, 2026, a New Year public holiday, while the second day, Friday the 2nd of January, was declared a work-free day.
“It is now within public knowledge that court workers embarked on an industrial action last Monday, the very day the request was made. Consequently, no written order has been issued, extracted, or served on any authority,” the Attorney General explained.
Dr. Ajulo emphasised that governance and law enforcement do not operate on hearsay, assumptions, or social media commentaries, but strictly on duly issued legal instruments that are properly extracted and served in accordance with the law.
“I owe both a constitutional duty and personal fidelity to the Governor, to the good people of Ondo State, and to the entire realm of justice.
“As a Minister in the Temple of Justice, and indeed, as a Prince within it, I can state without equivocation and on my honour that there has never been a court order issued that I would allow to be disobeyed. This instance will not be an exception.”
The Attorney General further clarified that it is legally impossible to act on, or advise on, a matter for which no formal court notice has been sighted assuring that once any such order is lawfully obtained, examined, and served, the government will take appropriate, lawful, and responsible steps strictly in line with due process.
He further stated that the Governor and the entire government of Ondo State hold the judiciary in the highest regard, noting that the title of Ambassador of Rule of Law in Nigeria bestowed on Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is not ornamental, but a reflection of his consistent adherence to constitutional governance and respect for judicial authority.
Dr. Ajulo disclosed that he has engaged the Commissioner of Police and other critical stakeholders, as well as the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs, who has voluntarily resolved to approach law enforcement agencies.
He queried the legal basis upon which any arrest could be effected, stressing that without a duly issued and served court order, such action would amount to a violation of the law, as the purported order remains unavailable and unverified.
He noted that the issue will be appropriately addressed and conclusively resolved in accordance with due process when the court resumes.
The Attorney General cautioned against efforts to compel law enforcement agencies to act solely on the basis of media speculation, warning that any attempt to effect an arrest without a valid warrant or subsisting court order would itself constitute an abuse of legal process.
Dr. Ajulo confirmed ongoing efforts aimed at resolving the issues between the Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Temitope Alphonsus, and the Commissioner, whom he described as respected sisters and women of great accomplishments, with a shared commitment to service and the administration of justice.
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