Lagos Court Remands School Owner, 2 Children In Prison For Flogging 10-yr-old Pupil

A Lagos State Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba has remanded the Proprietress of Cradle of Wisdom School, Mrs Clifford Ikpinkpini and her two children in the custody of the Kirikiri Correctional Center over alleged tortured and inhuman treatment of a ten years old pupil of the school.

Chief Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi ordered that Mrs Ikpinkpini and her two children, Okeisoprugwe Clifford Ikpinkpini, 34, and Okorie Ikpinkpini, 37, be kept behind bars pending the perfection of their bail after they were arraigned before the court by the police.

The Lagos State Police Command had docked the defendants on a four-count charge bordering on subjecting a pupil, Abel Ojeka, to inhuman treatment and torturing.

The Police prosecutor, Akeem Raji, had claimed that the defendants and others at-large, on June 27 and 28, 2024, at about 8 am at the premises of the school in Igando, flogged Abel Ojeka with a cane and inflicted injuries on his back, left hand and waist.

Raji stated that the offences are punishable under Sections 173, 172 and 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.

He also alleged that the defendants infringed on the right to dignity of their victim by subjecting him to torture and inhuman or degrading treatment.

Prosecution further accused the defendants of committing an offence punishable under Section 10 (1) (b) of the Child Rights Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.

The prosecutor added that when the incident was reported at the police station, the defendant conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace over their refusal to collect or accept police invitations and their refusal to appear at the station.

Part of the charge read, ” that you Okeisoprugwe Clifford Ikpikpini, Okiore Ιkpikpini, Chief (Mrs) Clifford Ikpikpini and others at-large on the same date, did obstruct one Inspector Yemi Amao attached to Igando Police Station at the course of performing or carrying out her lawful duty and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 117 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

They however pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

Following their not-guilty plea, Magistrate Osunsanmi admitted them to bail of N200, 000 with two sureties each before adjourning the matter to August 29, 2024.

Meanwhile, drama ensued in court when the defendants refused to give their address details and declined to put down their statements.

The Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Yemi Amoo, had to show the video evidence of how they acted towards the police to the Chief Magistrate, who condemned the proprietress’ action and her co-defendants in the court.

The Chief Magistrate told the defendants that since they were not ready to give their information, she would remand them, and whenever they were prepared, they would inform the court.