Ondo State Commissioner for Sports, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye has been accused of assaulting Tayo Ikujuni, a senior journalist with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye was was alleged to have assaulted Tayo Ikujuni duuring the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Ondo.
Ikujuni, an assistant editor-in-chief with NAN, was reportedly in Oba-Ile in the Akure north LGA of the state when the alleged attack occurred.
According to Ikujuni, the commissioner allegedly punched his hand, confiscated his phone, and threw it away.
He claimed that Yusuf-Ogunleye also instructed his political thugs to seize a Samsung tablet phone belonging to him.
Ikujuni said, “Trouble started at about 11.45 when the reporter inquire if the electoral materials had arrived, since they have started counting.
“Immediately, Yusuf-Ogunleye shouted, “Who are you? You’re a useless journalist. You’re a stupid journalist. Go away from here.”
It was the quick intervention of some party chieftains and security personnel that rescued the reporter from the midst of the commissioner’s violent thugs.
In response to the incident, the Ondo chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) condemned the assault on Ikujuni, describing it as barbaric and unacceptable.
NUJ Chairperson Leke Adegbite called for a thorough investigation into the matter and urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to place Ogunleye on indefinite suspension pending the outcome of the investigation.
Adegbite demanded that the commissioner replace the damaged handset of the journalist and issue an unreserved apology to both the victim and the media industry.
“Ondo NUJ observes with sadness that Mr Ogunleye’s attitude to media professionals was unbecoming of a public office holder,” Adegbite said.
“We call on Mr Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to place Mr Saka Ogunleye on indefinite suspension for his physical assault on a Senior journalist like Tayo Ikujunni while performing his constitutional roles of monitoring the APC primaries.
“We call on the Commissioner to replace damaged handset of the journalist and tender unreserved apology to the victim and the media industry.
“We equally direct Media Houses and professionals to halt the coverage and activities of the Commissioner until our demands are met”.
Reacting to this incident, the commissioner of sport denied assaulting the journalist, saying “I only requested for his identity card. I didn’t assault him.”
KanyiDaily had also reported how Ondo socialite, Sesan Adelabu, brutally killed his wife, Bolu, before taking his own life in Akure.
