Sanwo-Olu’s Commissioner Speaks On Slapping Man For Recording Her, Describes It As Blackmail

The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, has  refuted allegations that she assaulted a man who recorded her during an official visit.

Naija News understands that a video which surfaced yesterday had shown Benson-Awoyinka directing security operatives to remove someone from the J.K. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History when she noticed an unidentified man recording her actions.

In the video, the commissioner is spotted trying to seize the man’s phone which led to a physical altercation.

The man, visibly upset, accused her of slapping him and warned her against such behaviour in the future.

However, speaking via a statement, Benson-Awoyinka described the viral video as a misrepresentation of facts intended to distort the narrative.

She explained that she was conducting a routine inspection of the facility as part of her oversight duties when the altercation occurred.

The statement also revealed that during the visit, the Centre’s director, Qudus Onikeku, was found to be operating an unauthorised canteen on the premises without the ministry’s approval.

The statement said that the Commissioner sought clarification regarding the establishment and initiated its eviction. However, the Ministry alleged that Onikeku resisted the action, escalating the situation.

The Ministry said, “The Honourable Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, 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.K. Randle Centre.

“During the inspection, it was discovered that the Director of the Centre, 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 initiate an eviction, which the Centre’s director violently resisted and had his team attack officials of the ministry.

“The non-state actors who are neither recognised by the Lagos State Government nor authorised to attend the meeting, who accompanied the Centre’s Director, barged in while he ordered them to record the proceedings, which 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 false narrative. The video posted ostensibly to blackmail her speaks for itself.”

The Ministry described the video as an attempt to blackmail the Commissioner. It also reassured the public that an investigation into the matter has been ordered, with appropriate actions to follow.