2 children remanded for allegedly torturing minor

Chief Magistrate Bolanle Osunsanmi has ordered the remand of Mrs. Clifford Ikpinkpini, her two children, and the Proprietress of Cradle of Wisdom School, to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, facing charges of child torture and inhumane treatment of a minor.

The magistrate ordered the trio to be detained in custody until they satisfy the terms of their bail.

The police charged the proprietress, Mrs. Clifford Ikpinkpini, and her two children, Okeisoprugwe (34) and Okorie (37), with four counts, including child abuse, torture, and impeding the course of justice.

The police prosecutor, Supol Raji Akeem, told the court that the defendants and others at large had between June 27 and 28, 2024, committed the alleged offence.

He said that the incident occurred at about 8 am at the Cradle of Wisdom School, Igando.

Akeem said the defendants flogged the 10-year-old boy with a cane and inflicted injuries on his back, left hand and waist.

They were also accused of allegedly infringing on the right to dignity of the minor by subjecting him to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment.

Akeem told the court that when the incident was reported at the station, the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace, by refusing to accept police invitation to appear in the station.

The prosecutor said the trio obstructed one Inspector Yemi Amao attached to the Igando Police Station from performing her lawful duty.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 173, 172, 117 and 168(d), 10 (1) (b) of the Child Rights Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

Following their not-guilty plea, Osunsanmi admitted them to bail of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum each.

It was gathered that the 10-year-old pupil allegedly got to school late. And that he had explained to the defendants that it was difficult for him to get a motorcycle to take him to school.

He added that he had to trek a long distance before he was able to get one.

It was also gathered that the defendants allegedly flogged the victim which resulted in a swollen waist, hand and back.

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

Yemi Amoo, the IPO, had to show the video evidence of how they acted towards the police to the Chief Magistrate who condemned the proprietress and her children’s action in the open court.

Osunsanmi stated unequivocally that, as the trio refused to furnish the necessary information, she would remand them in custody pending their willingness to comply.

She said, “This should be a signal 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 State Government has zero tolerance for child abuse.”

The court hearing was adjourned by Chief Magistrate Osunsanmi until August 29, 2024, for a brief mention.