We’ve arraigned seven Deeper Life High School suspects – Police

Seven suspects connected to the Deeper Life High School child molestation scandal have been charged to court, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command has said.

The suspects, it said on Wednesday, including 45-year-old Ndidi Solomon and four others, were arraigned before a magistrates’ court, while two students mentioned were arraigned at a juvenile court.

The command said in a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, said the arraignment followed a petition from one Mrs Deborah Archibong to the Commissioner of Police, Andrew Amiengheme.

It said, “Consequent upon a petition from one Mrs Deborah Okezie Archibong to the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State, Andrew Amiengheme, and upon the commissioner’s directive for a discreet investigation into the issues contained therein, one Mrs Ndidi Solomon, aged 45, and four other staff (members), including two students, whose actions or inactions negated extant laws have been today (Wednesday) charged to court.

“While Mrs Ndidi Solomon and four others were charged to the magistrates’ court, the two students were charged to the Juvenile Court.”

The CP said it was only expedient for matters of this nature to be quickly investigated and the courts allowed to decide on the merits.

He called on school authorities to take the welfare and discipline of their students seriously.

But it was learnt that the four suspects, who were meant to be arraigned before the Uyo Magistrates’ Court could not be arraigned due to the absence of the magistrate.

Defendants’ counsel, Fidelis Igwe, said, “The police brought seven accused persons, five were staff members of the school and two of them were students and minors.

“They were not arraigned because we were informed that the chief magistrate was not around, but that she would be around tomorrow (Thursday).”