A Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in the Ogba area, has ordered the remand of the Proprietress of Cradle of Wisdom School, Igando, Clifford Ikpikpini and her two children at the Kirikiri Correctional Center, over alleged torture and inhuman treatment of a 10-year-old pupil of the school.
Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi ordered the remand of the trio at the correctional facility after their arraignment before the court, reports Channels TV.
The Commissioner of Police arraigned the proprietress, Clifford Ikpikpini, aged 69, and her two children, Okeisoprugwe Ikpikpini, aged 34, and Okorie Ikpikpini, aged 37, on a four-count charge bordering on subjecting a pupil to inhuman treatment and torture.
The Police Prosecutor, Raji Akeem, alleged that the defendants and others at large, on June 27 and 28, 2024 at about 8 in the morning at Cradle of Wisdom School, Igando, did flog the minor, a 10-year-old boy with a cane and inflicted injuries on his back, left hand and waist.
The offence is punishable under sections 173, 172 and 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
Also, the defendants were said to have allegedly infringed on the right to dignity of the minor, by subjecting him to torture, and inhuman or degrading treatment, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 10 (1) (b) of Child Rights Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
The police said that when the incident was reported at the station, the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace, by refusing to appear at the station and to accept police invitations.
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 in 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 charge preferred against them.
Following their not-guilty plea, Magistrate Osunsanmi admitted them to bail of ₦200,000 with two sureties each.
She then adjourned the matter to August 29, 2024.
It was learnt that the pupil allegedly got to school late on Thursday, June 27. He said he explained to the defendants that it was difficult for him to get a bike to convey him to the school earlier, and he added that he had to trek for quite a distance before he was able to get one.
The defendants, however, allegedly flogged the boy which resulted in a swollen waist, hand and back.
After his mother and some of her relatives complained to the school authorities, the school sent a text message to the mother of the minor, stating that he had been expelled from the school with effect from yesterday, July 3.
The school said he was expelled for what they termed as “unacceptable gross irresponsibility, indiscipline and unruliness.”
The text also stated that “all the other siblings of the victim are also expelled from the school. The victim will not be allowed to write the forthcoming common entrance examination on Saturday as well.”
The incident was subsequently reported to the police who charged the matter to court, following the refusal of the school authorities to honour police invitation.
Meanwhile, a mild drama ensued in court when the defendants also refused to give details of their address, 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 their actions in court.
The Chief Magistrate bluntly told the perpetrators that since they were not ready to give their information, she would remand them in custody until whenever they were ready to do so.
She said, “This should serve as a warning to the yet-to-be-identified child abusers across Lagos State and Nigeria because this is just the beginning of total cleansing of the toxic system.”
“This should send a signal to yet-to-be-identified child abusers in both public and private schools, that the Lagos government has zero tolerance for child abuse.”
