JSS1 student drags Ekiti Govt to court for giving her 20 lashes

A JSS1 female student of Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Ado- Ekiti, identified as Gift Agenoisa, has dragged the Ekiti Government, before a state  High Court, for the alleged inhuman treatment meted to her for coming to school with an indecent hairstyle, seeking N15 million in damages for breach of fundamental rights.

In a suit number HAD/01/CR/2021 and sworn to, at the Ado-Ekiti  High Court, on her behalf by Mrs. Odunayo Agenoisa, the student claimed that her suspension from school by the government infringed on her rights.

Joined in the suit are the School Principal, Mrs. Oluwasanmi F.M (1st respondent), the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Olabimpe Aderiye(2nd), the Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission(3rd), and the Ekiti State Government (4th respondent).

In the affidavit attached to the originating summons, Gift alleged that she was treated in a  cruel and inhuman manner for coming to school with the alleged indecent hairstyle. she said that she was singled out of Assembly on May 22, and given 20 lashes, on the order of the school principal for the alleged indecent hairstyle.

In her originating summons deposed to by her counsel, Mr. Timmy Omotoso, and brought pursuant to Order 2 rules 1,3,4,5 and 6 of the fundamental rights enforcement procedure rules 2009 as preserved by Section 315 of the 1999 constitution, the applicant demanded  N15 million damages for her suspension.

She also demanded her immediate reinstatement back to school with unfettered access to all services being rendered therein. She stated that the beating she got that day, resulted in bruises, life-threatening scars, and bloodstains on her uniform, adding that she fainted and was rushed to the police clinic in Ado- Ekiti, where she was resuscitated.

She further claimed that her letters of protest to the wife of Ekiti Governor and some relevant government agencies were not responded to, hence, her resorting to legal action to seek redress. She added that she was being denied access to the school premises and her class, on the orders of the principal since then.

However, some reports have it that the Gift’s father and a Police Sergeant,  Elijah, allegedly mobilized four armed policemen to the school to manhandle some teachers for scolding his daughter who was said to have come to school with an indecent hairdo against the school rules and regulation.