A 38-year-old school teacher, Jackson Odhomi, was on Monday arraigned before a Lagos Magisterial District Court over allegations of sexual assault involving an 8-year-old pupil at a school in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State.
The defendant, who teaches at Hope Nursery and Primary School, Ayeteju, was brought before the court on a one-count charge filed by the Commissioner of Police.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged incident occurred in May 2025 at about 7:30am within the school premises in the Lagos Magisterial District.
The prosecution alleged that the defendant committed an act of sexual assault on the minor, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 260 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Section 260 of the Lagos State Criminal Law prescribes severe penalties for sexual assault on a child, as part of the state’s policy to protect children from abuse.
The case file indicated that the matter was investigated by officers from the Gender Section of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja.
Legal experts note that cases involving school officials and minors are treated with priority under the Child Rights Law and the Administration of Criminal Justice Law to ensure justice and protection for the victim.
The court did not take the defendant’s plea after the prosecutor, Inspector Lucky Ihiehie, asked the Court to refer the matter to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. M.O. Tanimola, ordered the defendant to be remanded in custody at the the Correctional Center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice.
The matter was adjourned for mention to await the DPP’s advice, which will determine jurisdiction and the next line of prosecution.
The prosecution team from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, is expected to present evidence to support the charge at subsequent hearings.
Child rights groups and education stakeholders have called for stricter background checks and safeguarding policies in schools to prevent abuse and ensure the safety of pupils. Legal experts also note that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court after trial.