The controversy surrounding Valencia Group of Schools, Ibadan, has escalated into a full legal battle as a former student, Oluwaferanmi David Ojo, formally instituted a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Oyo State High Court, alleging violations of his dignity during his time at the institution.
Documents exclusively reviewed by The Nigeria Education News show that the suit, filed under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, is anchored on Section 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution, alongside provisions of the Child Rights Act 2003 and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The applicant is seeking judicial interpretation of whether actions allegedly carried out against him in September 2016 constitute degrading treatment under Nigerian law.
In the originating motion, Ojo is asking the court to declare that the alleged acts of punishment meted out to him at the school in Akobo, Ibadan, amounted to a violation of his fundamental right to dignity. He is also demanding ₦50 million in damages from the respondent, Goodness Morakinyo, the proprietor of the school.
This legal move follows an earlier public statement issued by the school management, which denied allegations of abuse and described the disciplinary action as moderate and corrective. According to the school, the incident stemmed from a WhatsApp message in which the student allegedly used a derogatory term against the proprietor, prompting disciplinary measures in line with school policy.
However, in a strong rebuttal, Ojo dismissed the school’s official statement as false, insisting that the account presented by the institution does not reflect the reality of what occurred. He maintained that the narrative released by the school was an attempt to misrepresent the incident, adding that the matter would now be resolved through the judicial process.
Speaking through his public statement, the applicant emphasised that he has taken legal steps to enforce his fundamental rights and expressed readiness to pursue the matter to its conclusion. He stated clearly that both parties would “meet in court,” signalling the beginning of what could become a landmark case on student rights and disciplinary practices in Nigerian schools.
Investigative findings by The Nigeria Education News reveal that the dispute presents two sharply conflicting narratives. While the school insists that the disciplinary measures were limited to caning and routine corrective tasks without any form of degrading treatment, the applicant alleges that the actions went beyond acceptable standards and violated constitutional protections.
Further findings indicate that the matter had initially been handled internally in 2016, with both parties reportedly reaching an understanding at the time. However, the recent resurfacing of the issue on social media has reignited tensions and transformed what was once a closed matter into a high-profile legal dispute.
Legal analysts who spoke with The Nigeria Education News explained that the case will likely test the boundaries between school discipline and fundamental human rights, particularly in the context of minors. They noted that Nigerian courts have increasingly been called upon to interpret the extent to which disciplinary practices align with constitutional safeguards and international human rights obligations.
Education stakeholders also point out that the case raises broader concerns about safeguarding policies in schools, the use of corporal punishment, and the long-term psychological impact of disciplinary actions on students.
As proceedings are expected to begin at the Oyo State High Court, observers say the outcome could set a significant precedent for educational institutions across Nigeria, particularly in defining acceptable disciplinary standards within both public and private schools.
For now, both parties remain firm in their positions, with the school urging the public to await the outcome of the legal process, while the applicant insists that justice must be served through the courts.
