The Vicious Beating of School Children by a Sadistic Teacher in Nasarawa State
20th February, 2018 Onikepo Braithwaite THE ADVOCATE THISDAY LAWYER
Dear Onikepo,
I believe that it is not too late to extend New Year felicitations to you and the family. So, here it goes! I wish you and the entire family an abundance of joy, peace, success and excellent health in this year 2018. “Deo Volente”. I am still expecting your own festive greetings to me.
I now write to inform you that, I was appalled to see on 30/01/2018 in your THISDAY LAWYER segment, the two photographs of the vicious physical beating with a horse-whip, of school children by a cruel so-called teacher in Nasarawa State. I concur – the brutal attack was a gross violation of the legal and constitutional human rights of the children. Such violation, must not go unpunished by the law.
Indeed, the photographs reminded me of a recent CNN video of the gruesome assaults of illegal immigrants being mercilessly flogged, while lying on the ground, by heartless slavers in Libya. Well, Nigeria should not join the league of lawless Libya – a failed State.
The purpose of this letter, is also to ask you kindly not to limit your coverage to your brilliant article, but to keep the wicked assault on the front banner of your condemnation, in order to advocate the prosecution of the teacher/ assailant. He completely violated the self-respect and dignity of the children in front of their schoolmates, and perhaps other on- lookers.
Finally, I am happy to tell you that I enjoyed reading your compelling interview of my learned friend – Dame Priscilla Kuye Esq., your beloved Mum in the edition of THISDAY LAWYER of the 21st day of November, 2017. Well done. I pray that your own children will honour you. Amen.
I also enjoyed your intense interview of the Honourable Learned Attorney-General of Edo State – the Professor Yinka Omorogbe – as the cover of your THISDAY LAWYER edition of the 23rd day of January, 2018.
I end with renewed copious felicitations and best wishes for this year and beyond. “Deo Volente”.
With professional compliments, I remain.
Chief ‘Folake Solanke SAN, OON, CON B.A., Dip.Ed., FNIALS, LL.D (h.c) HLF D.Litt(h.c.), D.Lit.(h.c.), D. Litt.(h.c.)
My Dear Lady SAN,
Happy New Year to you Ma. I pray that God will continue to bless you with good health, peace and joy, not just in 2018, but well beyond. Amen.
I feel very honoured Ma, to have you as one of my avid readers. Thank you. Your comments spur me on to do better, and be the best that I can be. I will continue to cry out when the need arises; however, the question is whether anyone will hear or whether those that need to hear, care.
To date, I’m not sure that any criminal charges have been brought against those who were in charge, when 3 innocent Queen’s College girls lost their lives last year during an epidemic occasioned by the negligence of the school authorities. If a more serious case like that, involving multiple deaths, can be treated so casually, and the Principal actually given a new posting without being cleared of such a serious indictment, it is unlikely that a teacher who ‘merely’ caned students, will be prosecuted. This is the Nigeria that we live in today. Best Regards Ma. With Utmost Humility and Gratitude, I remain, Onikepo Braithwaite Editor, THISDAY Lawyer