Lawyer Takes Up Defence of Mother in Nursery Textbook Dispute

Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has confirmed his representation of a Lagos mother embroiled in a controversy over the content of a nursery school textbook, following her public criticism of the material.

The mother, Mrs Maryqueen Udoka, had earlier raised concerns about a passage in English Language Foundation for Nursery Schools, which she described as unsuitable for her five-year-old child. Her remarks, shared in a viral video, sparked widespread debate over the textbook’s approval and appropriateness for young pupils.

Effiong disclosed that the development led to a police invitation from the Zone 2 Command in Onikan, Lagos, after the textbook’s author filed a petition. The petition reportedly contained allegations of conspiracy, criminal defamation, offensive publication, and cyberstalking  all of which the lawyer dismissed as baseless.

Speaking after honouring the invitation alongside his client, Effiong said the matter was addressed before the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, AIG Moshood Jimoh. During the meeting, a copy of the textbook was presented, along with a preliminary position from the Lagos State Government indicating that the book had not been approved for use in schools within the state.

Effiong noted that the complainant did not appear at the police command. The case has been adjourned to 7 May 2026, when the author is expected to be present for further proceedings.

The dispute has since drawn wider attention, with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan raising concerns over alleged intimidation and calling for proper scrutiny of educational materials used in schools.

In earlier petitions submitted to the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, Effiong and Mrs Udoka had urged authorities to investigate the textbook’s suitability and ensure regulatory compliance. The school where the book was reportedly sold has since withdrawn it following public backlash.

Mrs Udoka, a first-time mother, had maintained that her primary concern was the welfare of her child and other nursery pupils, insisting that the content in question was inappropriate for young learners.