A former school director of Nigerian descent, John Olubobokun, has been found guilty on nine counts of assault with a weapon for repeatedly beating students with a wooden paddle at a private Christian school in Canada.

Olubobokun, who served at Christian Centre Academy (now known as Legacy Christian Academy) in Saskatoon from 2003 to 2007, was accused by multiple former students of using corporal punishment that left them bruised, terrified, and traumatised.

While the practice of paddling students remains common in many Nigerian schools, the Canadian legal system takes a far stricter stance. Under Canadian law, any use of force that causes injury or involves a weapon — such as a wooden paddle — is considered criminal, regardless of cultural context.

The court heard painful testimony from nine survivors who were between 10 and 14 years old at the time. They recounted being ordered to bend over desks, then struck several times with the paddle.

One student recalled how the paddle broke mid-punishment, and others spoke of trying to hide bruises from their parents.

For many of the victims, the courtroom verdict marked the first time they felt heard. Some broke down in tears as the guilty verdict was read aloud, with one survivor calling it “the beginning of healing.”

“This verdict validates everything we went through,” said another former student. “We were children. No child should experience that kind of pain at school.”

Olubobokun’s legal team attempted to argue that the paddling was part of a discipline system permitted under Section 43 of Canada’s Criminal Code, which allows for “reasonable correction” by parents or educators. However, prosecutors successfully argued that using a wooden object went far beyond any lawful correction, particularly because it caused bodily harm.

The case has once again sparked debate around importing cultural discipline practices into Western educational systems. Many in the Nigerian diaspora have reflected on their own experiences of corporal punishment in school, while others question whether the legal systems abroad fully understand or make room for cultural context.

Olubobokun, who now resides in Canada, is awaiting sentencing.

Background
• Corporal punishment was outlawed in Canadian public schools decades ago. While private religious institutions often operate with more autonomy, they are still bound by criminal law.
• Christian Centre Academy, now rebranded as Legacy Christian Academy, has been the subject of multiple investigations in recent years following abuse allegations.