A former student of Valencia College has instituted a legal action against the school’s proprietor, Goodness Morakinyo, over allegations of severe child abuse, inhuman treatment, and violation of fundamental human rights.
The suit, which has now surfaced years after the incident, is drawing significant public attention as details contained in the court documents reveal a disturbing account of alleged maltreatment.
According to the affidavit accompanying the lawsuit, the incident dates back to September 13, 2016, when the claimant, then a 16-year-old student, was reportedly summoned alongside his classmates over a WhatsApp conversation in which he was accused of making an offensive remark about the proprietor. Despite attempts to explain his side of the story, the student alleged that he was denied a fair hearing as the situation quickly escalated into what has been described as a prolonged and degrading punishment.
The court filings detail how the student was allegedly subjected to hours of physical assault, humiliation, and public ridicule within the school premises. The claimant further alleged that the punishment extended beyond flogging, involving acts that he described as dehumanizing and intended to strip him of dignity in the presence of other students and staff members.
Additional claims in the suit state that the student suffered not only physical injuries but also emotional and psychological trauma as a result of the incident. The documents further allege that the humiliation continued even after the initial punishment, with actions that exposed the student to further embarrassment before others.
Now an adult and a legal practitioner, the claimant has approached the court seeking justice and redress. He argues that the alleged actions constitute a clear violation of his fundamental rights, particularly his right to dignity as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and the Child Rights Act.
The case is expected to test legal boundaries around student discipline, child protection, and accountability within private educational institutions, as the court is being urged to determine the extent of liability and appropriate remedies in the matter.
The Story Behind the Lawsuit
Many years ago, a student was attending Valencia College, a secondary school owned by the respondent in the lawsuit. The student was known to be well-behaved and had not caused any trouble throughout his time in the school.
Everything changed on September 13, 2016.
That morning, around 10 a.m., the school proprietor summoned the student and his classmates to the school dining hall. The reason for the meeting was a WhatsApp conversation the proprietor had seen. In that conversation, the student was accused of calling him a vulgar name — “mumu.”
When the student was confronted, he reportedly tried to explain himself and clarify the situation, but according to the affidavit, the proprietor refused to listen to any explanation or defense.
Instead, the situation escalated dramatically.
The proprietor allegedly ordered the student to remove his school shirt and lie down on the bare floor. After that, he instructed the school cleaners to pour two buckets of water on the student while he was on the ground.
But the punishment did not stop there.
The proprietor then brought out a bunch of canes and began flogging the student repeatedly. The beating reportedly lasted from about 10 a.m. until around 12 p.m., keeping the student away from his classes for the day.
After the beating, the humiliation continued.
The student was allegedly ordered to crawl on the bare floor, supposedly as an additional punishment meant to ridicule and degrade him.
Later during the recess period, when many students and staff members were present, the situation worsened.
In front of the entire school community — students, teachers, and other staff — the proprietor allegedly kicked the student and stepped on his head. Afterward, he ordered the student to roll on the muddy and wet floor repeatedly until the student’s clothes were completely soaked and covered in mud.
Even after this, the punishment continued.
The student was reportedly denied lunch that day. Instead, the proprietor allegedly instructed the lunch staff to place a bucket of dirty liquid waste used for washing plates on the student’s head.
According to the documents, the student was only 16 years old at the time, meaning he was legally still a minor and could not file a lawsuit on his own.
The humiliation did not end immediately after the incident. The affidavit states that the proprietor later called the student to his office and asked him to remove his school uniform in front of another person, who was not even a member of the school. The proprietor allegedly showed this individual the injuries and scars on the student’s body, which were said to have resulted from the beating.
Because he was a minor and later lacked the financial means to pursue legal action, the student did not immediately take the case to court. He also faced pressure from family and friends to drop the matter.
However, the experience reportedly left the student with serious physical injuries, emotional pain, public humiliation, and psychological trauma.
Years later, he decided to seek justice.
In the lawsuit, the student — now an adult and a legal practitioner — argues that the actions of the school proprietor were inhumane, degrading, and a violation of his fundamental human rights, particularly the right to dignity under the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and the Child Rights Act.
The case now asks the court to intervene, acknowledge the violation of his rights, and provide legal redress for the harm he suffered.
