PUPILS of the Queen’s College, Yaba,
Lagos, on Monday protested the accusations against Mr. Olaseni Oshifala,
their Biology teacher. This was just as the Parent-Teacher- Association
of the school claimed that it had yet to receive report on the
allegation of sexual assault from any parent or pupils.
A woman, Mrs. Chinenye Okoye, who
claimed to be a parent, had on Saturday accused Oshifala of molesting
her daughter who she said was in JSS2.
In the letter posted on the social
media, Okoye alleged that Oshifala was a child molester who had been in
the habit of sexually assaulting pupils.
According to her, efforts to get the
management of the school to intervene, including a visit to the school,
have yet to yield positive results as one of the vice-principals had
reportedly been shielding Oshifala.
But the pupils who were sitting for the
mock test of their West African Senior School Certificate Examination
defied parents and security guards as they almost forced the gates of
the school open on Monday.
Chanting, “We want Seni”, and “Open the
Gate”, they brandished placards with inscriptions such as, “ It is a set
up, Bring him back”, “Biology is at stake”, “No mother, no child, no
evidence”.
Okoye had alleged, “My daughter is in
JSS2, at Queen’s College. During their visiting day in the first term,
she complained to me that there was an Integrated Science teacher, Mr.
Oshifala, who had been harassing her and other pupils. However, two
weeks later, on Thursday, she called me late in the night and she was
crying bitterly.
“She told me that this same Mr.
Oshifala, who by the way lives in the boarding house area, had cornered
her on the way back from easing herself just before lights out.
“She told me that he called her and she
thought that he wanted to punish her for leaving her dorm room when it
was almost lights out. But when she got closer to him, he was smelling
of alcohol and she ran away from him. But he ran after her and tried to
kiss her while touching her private parts.
“She started screaming and then students
started coming out. So he left her and pretended to punish her. I got
to the school first thing the following day and spoke with the house
mistress who confirmed to me that the story was true. But she warned me
that Oshifala was a favourite of the vice-principal. I spoke with a
couple of other teachers and they all confirmed the story.
“The teachers also said that he had been
reported before at the Abuja headquarters for sexual harassment and he
was almost sacked until he begged this same VP who squashed the
complaints.”
However, the pupils who protested on
Monday, said Oshifala neither was an Integrated Science Teacher nor
lived within the school premises, contrary to the allegations.
The Head girl, Angel Tony-Ativie, said
none of the three JSS2 pupils who had Okoye as their surnames had a
mother called Chinenye.
“Mr. Oshifala does not teach Integrated
Science. He is our Biology teacher and he does not even live on the
premises of the school. He leaves the school around 9pm. I have known
him for three years and he is well-respected. I think this is a
publicity stunt to destroy the image of the school,” she said.
Also, the President, Student
Representative Council, Jessica Omenyi, said Okoye and her daughter had
not been traced since the news of the incident broke.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Parent-Teacher
Association, Queen’s College, Mrs. Beatrice Akhetuamen, has said the
school has set up an investigation panel to look into the allegations.
Akhetuamen, who said no parent of the school was called Chinenye Okoye,
added that the latter had not got in touch with the PTA and had not
picked calls put through to her line.
“The attention of the
Parent-Teacher-Association has been drawn to online reports of sexual
harassment said to have taken place at Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos.
Upon hearing the reports, the school authorities swung into action even
though we have yet to receive any official report, oral or written, from
any parent or student to that effect.
“At the centre of these accusations is
Mr. Oshifala, a male member of staff of the college, who does not live
in the school. In the write-up, the aggrieved parent mentioned that she
had made an oral report to our VPs. As of the time of making this
report, both administrators have yet to receive any parent with such
allegations. Neither had I as the PTA chairman nor the principal
received any,” she said.
Oshifala was not on the school premises
on Monday when our correspondent visited. His number was also switched
off as of 9pm when this report was filed. Attempts to reach Okoye were
also not successful as the name, Tope Otabor, surfaced when our
correspondent called her line.
“My name is Tope Otabor and I don’t know
anybody in Queen’s College. Many people have been calling this line. I
don’t have a daughter in the school,” she said before ending the call.
When our correspondent also contacted
one of the social media platforms where the story was posted, a lady who
identified herself as Seyifunmi refused to provide Okoye’s email
address.
“We don’t have her contact. She just
sent us an email. If you read the letter, you would notice that it was
just like she was seeking advice. I am sorry, I can’t send you the email
address,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to Lagos
State Governor on education, Obafela Bank-Olemoh, said on Monday,
“Thanks to all who have recently reached out to voice concerns about the
situation in Queen’s College. Be assured it is being looked into.”
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