Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court sitting in Ikeja has delivered a resounding verdict in a case that has shaken the educational community of Ibeju-Lekki, sentencing Benson Arinze, proprietor of Nurtured Brooks Nursery and Primary School, to life imprisonment for the sexual assault by penetration of his six-year-old pupil, in a judgment that also saw the convict's name entered into the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register. The convicted school owner broke down in uncontrollable sobs immediately after the sentence was pronounced, a spectacle that drew no sympathy from presiding Justice Abiola Soladoye, who ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the testimonies of the survivor and her father were clear, compelling and sufficient to establish the guilt of the accused. Earlier, a teacher at the same school, Victor Ezenwata, had taken a plea bargain with the state and was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment, leaving Arinze, who maintained his innocence, to face the full wrath of a full trial. The case, which began in 2022 when the survivor was just six years old, has culminated in what many are calling a landmark ruling.
The Guardian, Daily Trust, and other outlets covering the trial reported that the survivor, whose identity has been protected throughout the proceedings, was a pupil at Nurtured Brooks Nursery and Primary School, Ibeju-Lekki, where Arinze served as proprietor. The abuse came to light after the child, who typically remained in school after closing hours while waiting for her parents to pick her up, began to exhibit what her mother described as "weird behaviour." Upon interrogation, the child disclosed that shortly after the end of each school day, the proprietor and one of the teachers would subject her to repeated acts of sexual assault. According to court documents, the survivor told the court that Arinze inserted his finger into her vagina while the teacher, Ezenwata, rubbed his penis on her vagina. The survivor's father immediately reported the matter at Elemoro Police Station, setting in motion an investigation that would lead to the arrest of both men.
The legal proceedings that followed revealed a stark divergence in the paths taken by the two defendants. Arinze was charged on a one-count charge of sexual assault by penetration of a minor, contrary to Section 261 of the Criminal Law, C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015. The teacher, Victor Ezenwata, was charged on three counts of sexual assault by penetration, unlawful sexual intercourse and indecent treatment of a child, contrary to Section 135 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State. In a move that would define his fate, Ezenwata, through his counsel Spurgeon Ataene, applied for a plea bargain. An amended charge dated May 27, 2025, was read to him, and he pleaded guilty. The court convicted him and sentenced him to 18 years imprisonment. Arinze, however, insisted on his innocence, forcing the prosecution to commence a full trial.
The state government was represented by counsel O.E. Adeoye, who called several witnesses, including the survivor, her father, and a medical professional. In her judgment, Justice Soladoye held that the survivor's testimony was lucid and compelling and that she was able to recount with startling clarity the acts perpetrated against her by the school proprietor. The judge noted that the survivor's father had corroborated the sequence of events leading to the discovery of the abuse, providing a timeline that was consistent and unchallenged by the defence. The court also reviewed the medical evidence, which confirmed the allegations of penetration.
In what proved to be a critical turning point, Justice Soladoye dismissed the evidence presented by the defence witnesses as "self-serving." The defence had attempted to cast doubt on the survivor's account, suggesting possible coaching by the parents or an exaggeration of events. However, the judge held that such claims were not supported by the facts and that the defence had failed to provide any credible alternative explanation for the child's detailed and consistent testimony. Justice Soladoye, who has presided over numerous high-profile sexual offence cases, including the conviction of a teacher to life imprisonment for defiling two seven-year-olds and a bricklayer for defiling a 13-year-old girl, found the school proprietor guilty as charged.
The court not only sentenced Arinze to life imprisonment but also ordered that his name be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offenders Register, a central database maintained by the Lagos State Government that tracks convicted sex offenders in the state. Under the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) Act, this registration is automatic upon conviction for specified sexual offences and is intended to allow employers, schools, and community organizations to screen individuals who may pose a risk to vulnerable populations. The DSVA, which has been active in Ibeju-Lekki organising community dialogues and sensitization sessions on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), has not yet issued an official statement on the Arinze conviction, but sources within the agency said the verdict sends an unequivocal message to perpetrators of child sexual abuse.
The reaction within the Ibeju-Lekki community has been one of shock mixed with satisfaction. While some residents expressed horror that a school proprietor entrusted with the care of young children could commit such acts, others have praised the speed and thoroughness of the judicial process, noting that many similar cases drag on for years without resolution. The survivor, now believed to be receiving counselling through the DSVA's survivor support program, is reported to be in stable condition, though her family has requested privacy as they continue the long process of healing.
The Nurtured Brooks Nursery and Primary School, where the abuse occurred in 2022, is no longer in operation, according to sources in the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area. It remains unclear whether the school was shut down by authorities following the allegations or closed voluntarily. A representative of the Lagos State Ministry of Education declined to comment on the status of the school, citing the ongoing sensitivity of the case, but confirmed that the ministry has strengthened its oversight protocols for private schools in the Ibeju-Lekki axis in recent years, including mandatory background checks for teachers and school owners.
Legal analysts have noted that the contrasting outcomes for Arinze and Ezenwata highlight the role of plea bargaining in Nigeria's criminal justice system. While the teacher's decision to plead guilty resulted in a reduced sentence of 18 years, the proprietor's insistence on a full trial, and subsequent conviction, resulted in the maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Both sentences, however, are subject to appeal, and it remains to be seen whether Arinze will challenge the judgment before the Court of Appeal. No notice of appeal has been filed as of the time of this report, but his legal team is believed to be reviewing the judgment.
For the six-year-old girl who remained after school each day, waiting for her parents in a place that should have been safe, justice has finally been served. The man who was supposed to protect her will now spend the rest of his life behind bars. The community of Ibeju-Lekki has been reminded, in the harshest possible terms, that the threat to children can sometimes come from the very people society has entrusted with their care. And as the name of Benson Arinze is entered into the sexual offenders register, one can only hope that this case serves as a deterrent to others who might consider preying on the vulnerable.
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