The Lagos State government on Friday
evoked the Child Rights Act and the Lagos State Policy on Safeguarding and Child Protection against a teacher, Stella Nwadigbo, of Christ Mitots Nursery and Primary School, 5, Ifelodun Street, Off Yewa Road, Isawo Agric, Ikorodu, for indecently treating a toddler and pupil of the school, Master Abayomi Michael.
In a viral video on Wednesday, January 8, 2025,
Mrs. Nwadigbo was seen unlawfully and indecently assaulting the three-year old pupil, aggressively smacking the child in the face repeatedly for struggling with a lesson.
In its fact-finding mission, the Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA) of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education on Thursday, January 9, 2025, visited the school, which was approved in 2010, but discovered that it was partially self-shut down and pupils were asked to remain at home untill Monday, January 13, 2025.
The school’s Head Teacher, Mrs. B. Adeyeri, while reacting on behalf of the Proprietress, Rev.(Mrs.) O.N. Olutoye, confirmed the need to protect other pupils from harassment and uncontrollable visits/ pressure from the public, who had been visiting the school premises for pictures/videos, which necessitated the temporary closure of the school.
Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Basic and Secondary, Kayode Sutton, in a statement,
stated that Master Abayomi Michael had been referred for adequate medical attention, and Mrs. Nwadigbo was arrested and subsequently remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional facility till February 18, 2025, awaiting the Director, Public Prosecution’s legal advise.
By her action, Mrs. Nwadigbo has contravened the Child Rights Act and the Lagos State Policy on Safeguarding and Child Protection, which are punishable offences under the law.
The investigation continues on Monday, January 13, 2025, which requires the attention of the School Proprietress, Mrs. O. N. Olutoye, the Head Teacher, Mrs B. Adeyeri, the survivor, Master Abayomi Michael and his mother, Mrs Okunlaya Adenike Fatimah, who is also a teacher in the school.
