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Child abuse: Jubilation as court releases Lagos teacher, accuser kicks

Published

4 years ago

May 19, 2022

Adewale Bakare

There was jubilation on Thursday at the Ogba Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, over the release of a schoolteacher, Adewale Bakare, who was accused of child abuse.

The PUNCH gathered that the teacher had been remanded in Kirikiri Prison since May 4 before his bail application was granted.

However, his accuser, Mr Adebisi Arewa, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, faulted Bakare’s release on bail.

Teachers, parents, students and former students stormed the court premises as early as 7.30 am on Thursday, The PUNCH was told.

There was also jubilation on the premises of the school where Bakare teaches in the Sabo area of Lagos State after his release.

A jubilant crowd, who waited for Bakare’s arrival at the court for about two hours, carried placards and banners seeking the court to discharge the teacher.

While they sang victory songs, the teacher broke down in tears when he appeared from the Kirikiri’s vehicle that brought him.

Dressed in a red shirt and black trousers, Bakare thanked God and people for standing by him during his “trial and tough times”.

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“Thank you, God, for helping me. Thank you, God, for not putting me to shame. You are my helper, only you deserved to be worshipped, God,” he cried as the jubilant crowd lifted him up.

Speaking with our correspondent, Arewa said that the case was adjourned when he went to court today.

According to him, Bakare’s bail application was not debated.

He said, “How can that be? There are so many loopholes. I cry for this country. Anyway, he can only be released on bail and not freed.”

Backstory

There had earlier been protests over Arewa’s allegation that Bakare sexually abused his nine-year-old daughter on the school premises.

The protesters, comprising of educators, teachers, parents and former students, had protested on the premises of the Nigeria Bar Association, Lagos State Police Command and Lagos Governor’s Office.

The placard-carrying protesters argued that Bakare should not be kept in prison since the accuser failed to produce the victim for forensic tests or provide evidence.

They alleged that Bakare and his accuser earlier had an encounter over a parking space in the school but his accuser denied having any encounter with him.

Among the inscriptions on their placards are ‘say no to weaponised rape accusations’, ‘Lagos State, we say no to statistics, yes to justice’, ‘False accusation is a crime’, ‘rape is not a joke, do not accuse people to score a point’, and ‘rescue the Arewa girl’.

It was learnt that while in prison, Bakare’s wife delivered a pre-mature baby, who was kept in an incubator at a federal hospital in Lagos State.

48-year-old Bakare, who denied the allegations against him, had been a teacher for 21 years. He was a former principal of an international school where he worked for 10 years before joining Methodist Girls High School.

“It is noteworthy that Mr. Arewa has accused collectively more than five male and female teachers and aides of defiling his two daughters since 2019. As we speak, we have a teacher sentenced to life imprisonment in Kirikiri for allegedly defiling one of the daughters whom we shall call Miss O,” Bakare’s lawyer, Toyin Taiwo-Ojo had said.

During the protest, a child rights activist, Mr Saheed, urged the government and police to look thoroughly into the matter.

He said, “Prior to the arrest of Bakare, the Old Girls Association of the school organised a mentoring programme in the School Hall to celebrate the International Women’s Day on March 8, 2022. Arewa’s daughter was said to ask that ‘If you are being forced to do something you don’t want to do by your father, how can you stop it; and if you are being abused by your father, how can you run away from such?’.”

Arewa, however, denied the allegations, saying that the decision to conduct forensic interviews was ill-advised and precipitous.

He claimed that the teacher’s family, school, non-governmental organisations and former students are spreading false information about him and his daughters.

He also said evidence was provided in the case.

Arewa had said, “The survivor has been subjected to numerous ‘forensic interviews’ everywhere I was directed to take her, without my consent, beginning from Mirabel Centre and Domestic Violence Unit of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice; Ilupeju Division of the Nigerian Police Force and the Gender Unit of the Lagos State Police Command.

“All these interviews met the requirements of ‘forensic interviews’ because they were done in camera without my being in the same room with the survivor.

“That ‘forensic interviews’ in itself is riddled with pitfalls, inadequacies and inanities too numerous to do an exhaustive list; it will however suffice to mention its most critical flaws.”

The PUNCH, however, gathered that the Lagos State Government has taken custody of the children.

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Pastor Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Murdering Landlord in Akwa Ibom

Published

3 hours ago

February 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Pastor Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Murdering Landlord in Akwa Ibom

Prince Emmanuel Umoh, the resident pastor of Living Faith Church Chapel, Ifa Ikot Ubo–Ifa Ikot Okpon Branch in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has been sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of his landlord, Gabriel Bassey, a 500‑level civil engineering student at the University of Uyo.

Umoh was found guilty by Justice Gabriel Ette of the Akwa Ibom State High Court after evidence showed he fatally stabbed Bassey on December 21, 2020, inside the estate in Ifa Ikot Ubo, a community in Uyo Local Government Area. The judgment was delivered following a trial that lasted more than five years.

The prosecution established that Bassey had moved into his late mother’s property in Ifa Ikot Ubo to secure the family estate and be closer to school. The property previously housed a nursery school his mother built before her death in December 2019.

Court records show that part of the estate — a hall connected to a two‑bedroom apartment occupied by Bassey and his younger brother, Emmanuel Bassey — was leased to Living Faith Church for worship and community use at an annual rent of ₦150,000, with permission from Bassey’s father, Emana Bassey, a retired principal. The church began using the hall before the full rent was paid.

Umoh, who was later appointed the chapel’s first resident pastor, was given a spare key to the deceased’s apartment to allow access to church property stored inside. Evidence presented in court revealed that after this arrangement, personal items belonging to the deceased’s late mother — including clothing, dishes and valuables — began to go missing.

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The father, Mr. Emana Bassey, testified that he initially approved the spare key arrangement. However, when items started disappearing, he instructed his son to return the key. The defendant claimed he had lost the key, prompting concerns over security. The church’s senior pastor, Owoidoho Akpan, who testified for the defence, gave the Bassey family ₦5,000 to replace the locks. After the locks were changed, no further items were reported missing, the court heard.

Additional tensions arose between Umoh and Bassey over the use of rent funds supposedly meant for hall renovations, with disagreements escalating in the weeks leading up to the murder.

On the day of the incident, neighbours observed Umoh entering the premises shortly before cries of “Jesus” were heard. Minutes later, he was seen wearing a blood‑stained white garment, claiming he had fallen while fixing a banner. Bassey was not seen alive again.

Five days later, on December 26, 2020, Bassey’s decomposing body was found in his room, wrapped in a mat with multiple stab wounds and a butcher’s knife beside him. Forensic evidence and witness testimony linked Umoh to the crime, with bloodstains on his clothing and the fact that he was the last person seen with the deceased.

Umoh was arraigned on December 6, 2021, on a single count of murder. He pleaded not guilty, and the prosecution called six witnesses, including members of the Bassey family and church officials, to support its case.

In his lengthy judgment, Justice Ette described the crime as deeply troubling and a betrayal of trust, particularly because it was committed by a religious leader on church grounds.

“Life is sacred, and those who represent God on earth should teach that. It is an irony and quite appalling when a man who claims to be the representative of the divine on earth stoops so low as to denigrate the very essence of his calling and take someone’s life on the premises of the church,” the judge said.

He added that individuals who violate public trust in this way threaten society and must be punished in accordance with the law.

Having found the defendant guilty beyond reasonable doubt, the court pronounced sentence:

“I hereby sentence you to death by hanging.”

The conviction brings to an end nearly six years of legal proceedings and underscores the rule of law in Akwa Ibom State, even when the accused holds a position of religious leadership.

Pastor Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Murdering Landlord in Akwa Ibom

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Keyamo Defends APC Amid Public Debate, Says Party ‘Not Made Up of Saints’

Published

3 hours ago

February 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo

Keyamo Defends APC Amid Public Debate, Says Party ‘Not Made Up of Saints’

Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, has defended the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), admitting the party is “not made up of saints” but insisting it remains a better political alternative than the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). His statement has sparked public debate and widespread reactions on social media as Nigerians discuss the credibility of political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Keyamo shared a video clip and message on his verified X account on Saturday, clarifying that a 2017 interview had been edited to omit key parts of his statement. He said the APC may not be perfect, but it offers better direction and governance for the country. He stated, “I will be a fool to say APC is a party of saints. Anyone who declares their party as a party of saints will also be a fool. But on the balance, the APC still holds the best hope for Nigeria, and we cannot return to the era of the PDP, which had leaders who are now contesting for the presidency.”

The minister highlighted President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the only political figure from that era who never defected to the PDP, emphasizing continuity and loyalty within the APC.

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The statement drew diverse reactions on social media. Supporters of the APC praised Keyamo’s honesty, describing his comments as a realistic assessment of political parties. One user wrote: “Acknowledging flaws shows integrity. APC is still the party that can drive progress.” Critics and PDP supporters argued that Keyamo’s admission reinforces perceptions of corruption and mismanagement within the APC. Some commented: “If APC is flawed, why should Nigerians trust it? Accountability is missing.” Political analysts and civil society advocates called for transparency and actionable reforms, noting that admissions of imperfection alone cannot guarantee better governance.

Keyamo’s defense of the APC comes amid increasing political activity ahead of the 2027 elections. The party faces scrutiny from defections, public criticism, and debates about its leadership. Meanwhile, the PDP continues to position itself as a viable opposition, aiming to regain political ground in the coming polls. Analysts view Keyamo’s statement as part of a strategy to portray the APC as a pragmatic and forward-looking party, contrasting with the PDP’s past political record. However, many argue that credible reform and accountability measures are necessary to win public trust.

Keyamo Defends APC Amid Public Debate, Says Party ‘Not Made Up of Saints’

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Lagos Police Arrest Officers After Fatal Alagbado Shooting Amid Public Outcry

Published

4 hours ago

February 21, 2026

Trends Admin

Lagos Police Arrest Officers After Fatal Alagbado Shooting Amid Public Outcry

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested officers involved in a fatal shooting incident in Alagbado, Lagos, which reportedly killed at least two civilians during a police operation. The Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident, according to SP Abimbola Adebisi, the command’s spokesperson.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Adebisi said:

“The officers involved in the unfortunate shooting incident that occurred today in Alagbado have been arrested and taken into custody. The Commissioner of Police has ordered a thorough and intensive investigation into the incident, as well as the adequate deployment of personnel to forestall any breakdown of law and order. Normalcy has been restored to the area.”

Preliminary reports indicate the shooting occurred during a police operation targeting suspected internet fraudsters, locally known as Yahoo boys, along the AIT area of Alagbado. Witnesses said two civilians were struck by gunfire and later died from their injuries, raising concerns about the use of force by security operatives in populated areas.

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Residents shared their reactions on social media, with many expressing shock and anger:

“Finally, the officers are arrested, but we need full transparency in this investigation,” one user wrote.
Another tweeted: “This is not the first time innocent civilians have been injured or killed by police in Lagos. Measures must be taken to protect lives during operations.”
Advocacy groups urged the authorities to ensure justice and accountability, emphasizing that arrests alone are not enough.

Historical Context of Police Shootings in Lagos

The Alagbado shooting is the latest in a series of controversial police incidents in Lagos, including:

2020 Lekki Toll Gate Shooting during #EndSARS protests, where security forces killed and injured demonstrators.
2021 Ajah Shooting involving the death of a pregnant lawyer during a police checkpoint operation.
Other incidents in Ojota, Murtala Mohammed Airport, and Onikan, where civilians were injured or killed during police enforcement operations.

These events have fueled public scrutiny of police conduct, with frequent calls for independent oversight, clear rules of engagement, and accountability for law enforcement officers in Lagos State.

The Lagos State Police Command has assured residents that the investigation will be thorough, justice will be served, and measures have been implemented to prevent further civilian casualties.