The suspended Head Teacher of the Deeper Life High School, Uyo, Mrs Ndidi Solomon and six others, has been arraigned in court by the police in Akwa Ibom State for their roles in the alleged sexual abuse and maltreatment of an 11-year-old pupil.
Arraigned with Mrs Solomon at the Magistrates’ Court in Uyo are Mrs Ndidi So, Joseph Nseabasi, Akpan Johnson, Egor Wilson, Joseph Ikenna and two minors.
They were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit felony to wit: indecent treatment of boys under 14 years and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 556 of the Criminal Code, Cap.38, Vol. 2. Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000.
The two minors were charged with committing an act of gross indecency by inserting their fingers into the anus of the 11-year-old pupil.
The minors’ offence is punishable under Section 218(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap.38, Vol.2 Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000.
Both were also charged with unlawfully and indecently assaulting the 11-year-old pupil, an offence punishable under Section 362(1) of the Laws of Akwa Ibom State.
Joseph Nseabasi, Akpan Johnson, Egor Wilson and Joseph Ikenna were charged with failure to prevent the minors from committing a felony, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 551 of the Criminal Code, Cap.38 Vol.11. Laws of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, 2000.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.
The court granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 each, while the two minors were released to their parents.
The case was adjourned till January 20.
It would be recalled that Deborah Okezie, the mother of the 11-year-old boy, who was allegedly abused at Deeper Life High School, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, had called out the management of the school over the abuse her son was subjected to.
The mother had interviewed her son in a Facebook Live Video that went viral, where she explained that her child was well-fed before being sent off to the boarding school, but returned home skinny and malnourished.
