Nigeria born NHS Consultant anaesthetist ,Dr Adekunle Okunuga, 59 struck off from the UK medical register for canning his son for misbehaving at school got his job back after blaminig his conduct on his 'cultural upbringing' in Nigeria.
'In 2015, Okunuga's name was ordered to be erased from the medical register after he was found guilty of serious professional misconduct by a disciplinary panel.
Dr Adekunle Okunuga, 59, caned his young son with the kitchen brush for misbehaving at school and made him perform squat thrusts and stand on one leg with his arms in the air while he kicked him.
Dr Adekunle Okunuga said he regreted his actions and apologised for his wrongdoing whilst blaming his unacceptable conduct on his 'cultural upbringing' in Nigeria.
According to Dr Adekule
'My actions embarrassed the medical profession and brought it into disrepute and as a member of the medical community, I should be role model. I apologised sincerely to the GMC and the wider public.
'My behaviour was born out of my cultural upbringing, I should have known better and I take full responsibility for my actions. If I were to witness a similar occurrence by one of my colleagues, I would be the first to speak up and take action and report it to the appropriate authorities.'
He added: 'I have been working abroad but have always given full disclosure of my sanction to all employers and the relevant medical authorities.
'I have attended courses in order to maintain my professional development and am clinically ready to resume practice in the United Kingdom where I could be of tremendous support to the medical community.'
It appears Dr Adekunle Okunuga forgot that the UK is not Nigeria, and that physical abuse on a minor is a serious safegaurding issue and a criminal offence which can sometimes land you in jail.
Canning of children is still very common in many African countries. Sadly , this form of punishment often inflict permanent physical wounds including trauma on children. There are several reported cases in Africa of parents inflicting serious injuries on their children and something killing them in the process .
Corporal punishment of children by parents is the most common form of violence against children in Africa and there are calls for it to be prohibited.Prohibition of corporal punishment, accompanied by national education and awareness-raising campaigns, has the potential to accelerate protection, empowerment and equal opportunity for children by significantly reducing the use of corporal punishment, breaking the intergenerational cycle and reducing the long-term negative impact on children, families and society.
“The full and harmonious development of the child implies the prohibition and elimination of all forms of violence against children, including corporal punishment.” (Aissatou Sidikou, Chaiperson, African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child)
