The Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, has refuted allegations of assaulting a man who recorded her during an official visit.
A trending video on social media on Thursday shows Benson-Awoyinka directing security operatives to remove someone from the J.K. Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History when she noticed a non – state actor recording her activities at the facility.
In the video, the commissioner is seen attempting to seize the man’s phone, which allegedly led to a physical altercation. The palpably upset man accused Toke Benson-Awoyinka of slapping him and warned her against such behaviour in the future.
But reacting to the incident, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture issued an official statement, describing the viral video as misleading and a misrepresentation of facts ostensibly to distort the narrative.
The Ministry explained that Benson-Awoyinka was conducting a routine inspection of the facility as part of her oversight duties when the altercation ensued.
The statement also revealed that while the visit lasted, the Centre’s director, Qudus Onikeku, was found to be operating an unauthorised canteen on the premises without the ministry’s approval.
The statement added that the Commissioner sought clarification regarding the establishment and initiated its eviction but Onikeku allegedly resisted the action, escalating the situation.
The statement further claimed that non-state actors, who were not authorised to attend the meeting, accompanied the director and disrupted proceedings.
These individuals, allegedly acting on Onikeku’s instructions, recorded the meeting without permission—a breach of administrative protocol.
The Ministry also clarified that Benson-Awoyinka did not assault anyone and on the contrary, a senior female member of the ministry’s team was reportedly assaulted by the non-state actors.
“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,” the Ministry said.
“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,” it added.
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.
