A 45-year-old teacher, Stella Nwadigo, has been remanded by the Ogba Chief Magistrate Court on Thursday for assaulting a three-year-old pupil of Christ-Mitos Primary School in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
A viral video on Wednesday showed Nwadigbo slapping the toddler at intervals for not learning to write numbers fast.
The video attracted public condemnation and outrage, leading to the teacher’s arrest.
During the arraignment, the police prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at about 11 am.
He said she indecently dealt with a three-year-old pupil of the school in her class one, Abayomi Michael, by giving him injury on his face.
The prosecutor also told the court that the defendant assaulted Abayomi by giving him fist blows consistently on his face, which caused him injury and swollen face.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.
Consequently, Magistrate Olabisi Kusanu granted her bail in the sum of N200,000, with two sureties in like sum who are gainfully employed.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement obtained by PUNCH , stated that the suspect was remanded at the Kirikiri correctional facility until February 18, when the case would continue.
The police spokesman added that the pupil had been taken to a medical facility for a proper check-up.
The statement read, “The Lagos State Police Command has arraigned Stella Nwadigo, aged 45, for indecent treatment and assault of a child.
“The suspect, who was arraigned in Magistrate Court 1, Ogba today, January 9, 2025, had been captured in a viral video indecently treating and assaulting a three-year-old pupil of a primary school in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
“Following receipt of the video, the Family Support Unit of Ikorodu Police Division promptly arrested the suspect on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, and transferred her to the Gender Unit of the Command Headquarters the same day after preliminary investigations. The victim was taken to a medical facility for adequate medical attention.
“The suspect has since been remanded to the Kirikiri correctional facility till February 18, 2025, when the case comes up for continuation of hearing.”
Hundeyin further stated that the Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, commended Nigerians for promptly reporting the incident and assured them of the command’s readiness to respond to situations ensuring the safety and security of Lagos residents and visitors.
