School proprietor faces 6-month jail term for insulting parent as ‘Prostitute’
Paul Okugbowa, the proprietor of Calvary Crown Academy in Benin City, has been sentenced to six months in prison after publicly referring to the mother of two of his pupils as a “prostitute.”
The incident, which caused a public disturbance, occurred on September 8, 2023, at the AIG Zone 5 headquarters in Benin City.
Chief Magistrate Caroline Oghuma, who presided over the case, also offered Okugbowa the option of paying a N100,000 fine in lieu of imprisonment.
In addition to Okugbowa’s sentencing, three teachers from the academy—Blessing Osarodion, Egharevba Esosa, and Isioma Nimen—were convicted for negligence in their duties.
Blessing Osarodion and Egharevba Esosa were each sentenced to one year in prison or given the option to pay a fine of N100,000. They were charged with negligence that resulted in injuries to a six-year-old pupil, Salma Aigbudu.
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Isioma Nimen received a lighter sentence of three months in prison or a fine of N50,000 after being found guilty of unlawfully abandoning another pupil, Zuri Aigbudu.
The defendants were tried under Sections 167(2), 412, 270, and 267 of the Criminal Laws of Edo State, 2022. Magistrate Oghuma noted the importance of holding school authorities accountable for both professional conduct and their responsibilities toward students and parents.
The case was initiated after Okugbowa insulted Mrs. Blessing Aigbudu, the mother of the injured pupils, in the presence of her husband and other onlookers at the police headquarters. The altercation reportedly escalated after complaints about the injuries sustained by the pupils, which were attributed to the negligence of the convicted teachers.
The judgement has drawn attention to the importance of proper conduct within educational institutions and the responsibility of school proprietors and teachers to ensure the safety and dignity of all parties involved.
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