Stella Nwadigo, a teacher accused of physically assaulting a three-year-old pupil at Christ-Mitots International School in Lagos, was arraigned on Thursday before Magistrate M.O. Kusanu at the Ogba Magistrate Court.
The incident, which took place in the Ikorodu area, sparked outrage after a video surfaced showing Nwadigo slapping the child, Abayomi Michael, multiple times.
According to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Nwadigo pleaded not guilty to the two charges leveled against her.
In a statement shared on X.com, the agency provided updates on the case, confirming that Nwadigo was remanded in a correctional facility until her next court appearance on January 18, 2024.
The statement also revealed that the court set bail conditions at ₦200,000 with two verifiable sureties.
“The matter was assigned to Magistrate M.O. Kusanu, and two charges were read to the suspect, to which she pled not guilty.
Her defense counsel applied for bail, which was granted by the court,” the agency noted.
The video, which went viral online, shows Nwadigo slapping Abayomi while attempting to teach him to write the number six.
The footage led to widespread calls for justice and drew significant public backlash. In response, the school management suspended Nwadigo, and Abayomi was reportedly hospitalized after the incident.
The case has drawn attention to the treatment of children in educational institutions, prompting discussions about safeguarding policies and stricter enforcement measures.
