By Ayodele Oni
Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Seun Osamaye, on Wednesday appeared before Akure Magistrate Court, almost a month after being declared wanted.
Following her appearance, the arrest warrant earlier issued against her, has been set aside by the Court.
Magistrate Damilola Sekoni, delivering her ruling, held that all pending applications before the Court had become spent as a result of the Commissioner’s appearance, weeks after the court had declared her wanted for failing to honour its summons.
Osamaye was previously declared wanted after she repeatedly failed to appear in court over a criminal complaint filed by a Chief Magistrate Grade I, Mrs. Temitope Alphonso, who accused the commissioner of verbal abuse, threats, and attempted assault during an official visit to the Ministry of Women Affairs on December 24, 2025.
At the resumed hearing, the commissioner was formally arraigned and pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Court subsequently granted her bail on self-recognizance.
The Magistrate thereafter adjourned the matter to February 20, 2026, for further proceedings.
While being declared wanted, Osamaye was seen in public attending official function following claim by her doctor that she was sick.
The Attorney General and commissioner for Justice, Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, had faulted arrest warrant issued on the commissioner.
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.
However, Wale Odusola, a lawyer, faulted the Attorney General’s explanation, describing it as misleading and inconsistent with established legal procedures.
Reacting in a social media post, the lawyer argued that the Attorney General’s emphasis on “service” of a warrant of arrest showed a misunderstanding of how such warrants are executed under Nigerian law.
“Do they serve warrant of arrest or order of arrest on the person the order is to be enforced against?” Odusola queried. “I don’t know who the AG was expecting the warrant of arrest to be served on when he made that statement.”
He explained that arrest warrants are not served on suspects or on the Attorney General’s office.
According to him, once a warrant is issued by a court, it is transmitted through court officials to the Commissioner of Police for execution.
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