Assault: Lagos Commissioner clears air, says Onikeku operating illegal business in state facility
The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture has set records straight and clarify the events that led to the viral video, where its Commissioner, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, was accused of an assault.
The ministry, in a statement on Thursday in Lagos by Mrs Omowunmi Seriki, the Director, Public Affairs of the ministry, said that the viral video was to concorted to misrepresent the commissioner and misguide the public.
Seriki said that Mr Qudus Onikeku, the Director of the J.Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, and other non state actors had been perpetrating illegal businesses in the facility without state government approval.
According to her, the commissioner in her routine oversight visited the centre and found out that the director was operating illegal business not known to the government.
“The attention of the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture has been drawn to a viral video circulating on social media regarding an incident at the J.Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History.
“It is imperative to set the records straight and clarify the events that led to the said video.
“The commissioner has the statutory responsibility of oversight over all facilities under the Ministry’s purview. In line with this mandate, she embarked on an inspection visit to the J.Randle Centre.
“During the inspection, it was discovered that the Centre Director , Qudus Onikeku, was illegally operating a canteen within the premises without the knowledge and approval of the Ministry.
“This prompted Mrs Benson-Awoyinka to question the presence of the establishment and initiated an eviction that the Centre Director violently resisted and had his team attack officials of the Ministry,” she said.
According to her, the non-state actors who are neither recognised by the Lagos State Government nor authorised to attend the meeting, who accompanied the Centre Director, barged in.
The director said that while the meeting was ongoing, Onikeku ordered the non state actors to record the proceedings.
“This, the Honourable Commissioner objected to. It must be emphasised that recording any meeting without the consent of the presiding authority is unacceptable and a breach of protocol.
“For clarity, Mrs Benson Awoyinka did not assault anyone, instead a senior female member of her team was physically assaulted by the non state actors which then escalated as seen in the viral video depicting a totally false narrative.
“The video posted ostensibly to blackmail her speaks for itself.
“The Commissioner maintained her stance that unauthorised persons should not participate in the meeting or record its discussions, which is in line with standard administrative procedures,” Seriki said.
According to her, an investigation has been ordered into the occurrence, and appropriate actions will be taken.
She said that the ministry remained committed to upholding transparency, accountability, and the efficient management of all its facilities.
Seriki said that the commissioner would continue to discharge her duties in the best interest of Lagos State and its citizens.
“We urge members of the public to disregard any misrepresentation of the incident and focus on the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to excellence in service delivery,” she said.
Recalled that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State in October 2024 inaugurated the remodelled J Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History.
The centre played host to the maiden edition of Afropolis Lagos Festival, an international festival of arts, creativity and innovation, which kicked off on Oct. 26, 2024 and ended on Nov. 3, 2024
Sanwo-Olu during the event announced the appointment of Nigerian multimodal international artiste, Qudus Onikeku, as the Centre Director for the J Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History.
The governor said the centre, meant to project the history and culture of the Yoruba race from the beginning through to the present and the future, would also serve as a suitable research centre, until recent development with the director.
