Obaseki says arrest, prosecution of parents, guardians of out-of-school children begins Sept 12

…sets up special courts to prosecute perpetrators of sexual, physical abuse in schools

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the government will kick off the arrest and prosecution of parents and guardians of out-of-school children from the next academic session, which begins on Monday, September 12, 2022.

Obaseki, who spoke to journalists in Benin City ahead of the September 12th, 2022 resumption of the new school calendar year, said all machinery has been put in place for the enforcement.

He said the government, in partnership with the state’s judiciary, has set up special courts to prosecute perpetrators of sexual and physical abuses against children in schools in the state.

The governor said his administration is committed to guaranteeing the care, protection and wellbeing of every Edo child.

He said, “If we find any child under the age of 18 years being used for manual labour, such parents will be prosecuted. We thank the Chief Judge for providing special courts which will be used to prosecute any offender who perpetrates violence against any child or involves in sexual defilement or physical abuse in our school system.

“From September 12, when school resumes, any child found loitering or hawking during school hours will be arrested and the parents or guardians will be prosecuted and seriously dealt with. We have specially trained people to observe and watch over our children to ensure no child is abused in Edo State.”

“School resumes on Monday, September 12, 2022 and teaching must commence the same day. I will send out a special squad to monitor schools across the State; I will also monitor the schools myself, alongside with the Commissioner of Education,” the governor added.

Harping on the infrastructure development in schools across the state, Obaseki said, “I have instructed the Ministry of Education to demolish all dilapidated buildings in our schools. For those schools really dilapidated, we will move the students to other schools and rebuild the schools.

“We will emphasize the environment our children learn as we need to secure the environment where our children learn. We will be spending a lot of resources to ensure no child seats on the ground to learn. By the time the Commissioner of Education will be completing her term, no Edo child should sit on the ground to learn.”

“Commencing from September 12 when the new school calendar will start, I have also directed the Ministry of Education to set up a cleanup system to clean all Edo Schools.”

PHOTO CAPTION

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L-R: Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe; Principal, Ebhoiyi Senior Secondary School, Uromi, Elder Ojiezele Dennis, and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, during the governor’s presentation of electronic devices to school principals in Edo State, at the New Era College, in Benin

Ulegun illegal demolition: Court orders remand of Secretary of Benin Traditional Council, Irabor, others in prison

An Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City has remanded the Secretary of Benin Traditional Council, Mr. Frank Irabor and other chiefs in prison custody.

The defendants are facing prosecution for their involvement in the illegal demolition of over 80 houses in Ulegun Community, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

They were arrested on Wednesday by the Edo State Police Command and charged to court today, Thursday, September 1, 2022.

Hon. Justice Mary Itsueli of the Edo State High Court ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Oko maximum prison pending receipt of legal advice by the director of public prosecution.

Their arrest and subsequent prosecution by the police followed several protests and pleas by the community for justice for the illegal destruction of their property worth millions of naira, as well as alleged intimidation, harassment and disregard for the rule of law.

The community had, Monday, protested the alleged demolition of several houses in their community, as well as arrest and maiming of their Village Head (Enogie), Sunday Eghosasere Omoregie, and the community’s Chief Priest (Ohen), Philip Uwuoroya, by a group of chiefs, led by Frank Irabor.

The protesters made up of land developers, women, leaders and youths in the community, among others, took their protest to the Government House, where they called on the state government to intervene and rescue them from the hands of those they described as “tormentors.”

The community lamented that the dastardly act prosecuted by Frank Irabor and his co-travelers has left many residents homeless, inflicting pains and sufferings on the people, expressing worry that the state may soon plunge into crisis if nothing is done to curtail these excesses and penchant for illegality.

PHOTO CAPTION

Secretary of the Benin Traditional Council, Mr. Frank Irabor (in sky blue native) being led by security operatives to Oko Maximum Prison, after he was remanded along with other defendants by an Edo State High Court, Benin City on Thursday, September 1, 2022.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ_YOLFHh6Y

Illegal demolition: Edo Police docks Secretary of Benin Traditional Council, Irabor, other chiefs

The Edo State Police Command has arrested and docked the Secretary of Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor and other chiefs for the illegal demolition of over 80 houses in Ulegun Community, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

They are currently facing trial at the Edo High Court, Benin City.

Their arrest followed several protests and pleas by the community for justice to end the intimidation, harassment and total disregard for the rule of law by the detainees.

The community had, Monday, protested the alleged demolition of several houses in their community, as well as arrest and maiming of their Village Head (Enogie), Sunday Eghosasere Omoregie, and the community’s Chief Priest (Ohen), Philip Uwuoroya, by a group of chiefs, led by Frank Irabor.

The community lamented that the dastardly act prosecuted by Frank Irabor and his co-travelers has left many residents homeless, inflicting pains and sufferings on the people, expressing worry that the state may soon plunge into crisis if nothing is done to curtail these excesses and penchant for illegality.

Illegal demolition: Edo Police docks Secretary of Benin Traditional Council, Irabor, other chiefs

The Edo State Police Command has arrested and docked the Secretary of Benin Traditional Council, Frank Irabor and other chiefs for the illegal demolition of over 80 houses in Ulegun Community, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

They are currently facing trial at the Edo High Court, Benin City.

Their arrest followed several protests and pleas by the community for justice to end the intimidation, harassment and total disregard for the rule of law by the detainees.

The community had, Monday, protested the alleged demolition of several houses in their community, as well as arrest and maiming of their Village Head (Enogie), Sunday Eghosasere Omoregie, and the community’s Chief Priest (Ohen), Philip Uwuoroya, by a group of chiefs, led by Frank Irabor.

The community lamented that the dastardly act prosecuted by Frank Irabor and his co-travelers has left many residents homeless, inflicting pains and sufferings on the people, expressing worry that the state may soon plunge into crisis if nothing is done to curtail these excesses and penchant for illegality.

Hearther:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbm4CsA_2HE

This is wrong, it is an abomination to destroy a house in Benin, It seems the custodian of the culture as lost hold of the cultures and tradition of the land