A recent judgment handed down by the Oredo Chief Magistrate’s Court in Benin has sentenced Paul Okugbowa, proprietor of Calvary Crown Academy, alongside three of his teachers, for their roles in a case marked by negligence and verbal assault against a parent.
The presiding magistrate, Caroline Oghuma, delivered her judgment on Thursday. Okugbowa received a six-month prison term, which he can commute by paying a fine of N100,000, for publicly labeling a parent, Mrs. Blessing Aigbudu, a prostitute. This incident reportedly took place on September 8, 2023, at the AIG Zone 5 headquarters in Benin, during which Okugbowa’s remarks were heard by bystanders.
Notably, Okugbowa is also recognized for his political aspirations, having recently been nominated as a candidate for the Young Progressive Party (YPP) in the upcoming 2024 Edo gubernatorial election.
The court also dealt harshly with the three teachers involved in the case: Blessing Osarodion, Egharevba Esosa, and Isioma Nimen. Each was charged with negligence for their failure to adequately supervise the children under their care. Osarodion and Esosa were sentenced to one year in prison—with the possibility of paying N100,000 bail for two counts of negligence that resulted in injuries to a six-year-old pupil, Salma Aigbudu. The court heard that Salma sustained serious facial injuries while unattended during school hours on September 29, 2021, without any first aid being provided by the responsible educators.
Additionally, teacher Isioma Nimen faced charges for the unlawful abandonment of another pupil, two-year-old Zuri Aigbudu, exposing the child to significant risk. Nimen has been sentenced to three months in prison, with an option to pay a N50,000 fine.
The actions of Okugbowa and his staff were found to violate multiple sections of the Criminal Laws of Edo 2022, highlighting serious concerns regarding the safety and well-being of students in their care. The court’s ruling aims to underscore the importance of accountability among educators and ensures that such incidents are treated with the severity they warrant.
