Sunday Adedayo Asefon, a senior special assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Student Engagement, has been accused of brutally assaulting his 10-year-old daughter, Michelle Shileola Asefon, in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. The incident occurred on October 31, 2026, according to a petition submitted to the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade. The petition, filed by A. J. Oguntuase & Co. on behalf of Asefon's estranged wife and daughter, alleges that Asefon violently attacked his daughter at the family residence, leaving her with injuries and bleeding from her ears and head.
The petition describes the incident in detail, stating that Asefon stormed the family residence without prior notification and attacked his daughter while her mother was washing clothes behind the house. The child's mother subsequently took her to the Odo-Ado Police Division and the Police Clinic in Ado-Ekiti for medical attention. A video obtained by SaharaReporters shows the 10-year-old girl bleeding from her right ear while screaming in distress. The petition characterizes the alleged incident as child abuse, gender-based violence, and a violation of the minor's fundamental human rights.
The petition also alleges a history of domestic violence involving Asefon and his estranged wife, including previous incidents that reportedly required hospital treatment. The lawyers claim that Asefon had earlier attacked his estranged wife before filing a divorce petition, leaving her with injuries that required hospital treatment. The petition states that the incident was reported to the then Commissioner of Police. Additionally, the petition alleges that Asefon had failed to maintain regular contact with his two children and had refused to provide assistance when the 10-year-old girl recently required specialized medical attention.
Asefon has refused to honor a police invitation to respond to the allegations, and sources familiar with the investigation claim that he left Ekiti State shortly after the petition was submitted. Police sources allege that Commissioner Falade reluctantly assigned the petition to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) after pressure from the complainants' legal representatives. However, rather than ensuring that Asefon appeared before investigators, the commissioner allegedly alerted the presidential aide to the complaint and enabled him to leave Ekiti State.
In a disturbing development, police sources claim that Asefon attempted to justify the alleged assault by accusing his daughter of soliciting money from people on TikTok. According to the sources, the presidential aide claimed that the child had been begging for financial assistance on the social media platform. This justification has not been verified, and the police are still investigating the matter. The incident has raised concerns about the handling of cases involving high-ranking government officials and their family members.
The allegations against Asefon emerged a day after armed men attacked human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and members of his team at Tawakalitu Restaurant in Ado-Ekiti on October 30. Sowore has publicly accused Asefon of participating in the planning and coordination of the attack, which the activist described as an attempted assassination. The Ekiti State Police Command has faced criticism over its handling of the October 30 incident, and the latest allegations against Asefon have raised questions about the command's impartiality in investigating cases involving government officials.
The case highlights concerns about the prevalence of domestic violence and child abuse in Nigeria, particularly among high-ranking government officials. The police must investigate the allegations thoroughly and ensure that Asefon is held accountable for his actions if found guilty. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, and many are calling for Asefon to be brought to justice. The case is ongoing, and SaharaReporters will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Key points
- Asefon's alleged assault on his 10-year-old daughter has sparked widespread outrage and raised concerns about domestic violence and child abuse in Nigeria.
- The incident has also raised questions about the Ekiti State Police Command's handling of cases involving government officials and their family members.
- Asefon has been accused of participating in the planning and coordination of an attack on human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and members of his team.
