Olaseni Oshifala, a Biology teacher, was purportedly accused by a parent, Chinenye Okoye, of forcefully trying to kiss and touch the private parts of her daughter, a JSS 2 pupil.
According to Mrs. Okoye, the teacher cornered her daughter on her way back from relieving herself just before lights out and assaulted her. “She started screaming and then students started coming out so he left her and pretended to punish her,” she added.
The claims went viral on social media last weekend forcing the college alumni to convene an emergency meeting.
The management of Queens College, Lagos, has thrown its weight behind one of its teachers accused of sexually assaulting a female student. In a statement issued by the school after the meeting, Lami Amodu, the Principal, said the claims was an attempt to ridicule, not just Mr Olaseni, but the “hard-earned reputation” of Queens College.
“When I resumed work as principal here, I was told of a certain matron who housed a person that had attempted to have an affair with a student,” Mrs. Amodu began.
“I was not here when it happened but as soon as I was told, I made sure that the matron was moved out of the school premises. I have zero tolerance for such behaviour. I have a daughter who schools here, even before I began work here. I will not take chances.
“As I talk to you, no single parent has come to me or any of my Vice-Principals to report Olaseni as a molester. I assure you that if the allegation was true, other parents would have been buzzing our lines non-stop. Children spread gossip fast. They would tell their parents or relations, if anyone was molesting them here. No parent would take such news lightly.
“When this news reached me, I summoned an emergency meeting of all the critical stakeholders. We all discussed before inviting Mr Osifala. Every one of my staff says positive things about the man. Of course they were all here (Queens College) before me, so they are qualified to assess members of staff properly.”
“Let us not forget that Olaseni worked with five different principals, all of who also told me good words about him, despite the various allegations against him,” she said.
“I have investigated and we are not relenting in our determination to get to the bottom of this case. The man in question has been of impeccable character and committed service since I resumed work here. I can vouch for him.
“When I resumed work here, I was told a few unsavoury things about him. But investigations showed that each time a new principal resumed at Queens College, these allegations popped up. They would tell every new principal that Mr Olaseni is a molester. But after investigations, nothing concrete came up. My predecessor, whom we just sent forth today, told me the same thing. So it has been a recurring decimal, these allegations.”
Mrs. Amodu said there was a campaign of calumny against Mr. Osifala who happens to be “the best teacher in our school.”
“During World Teachers’ Day, he bagged five awards. The students all have good things to say about him. Somebody somewhere is up to some mischief and we will uncover this unfortunate drama,” the school principal said.
“We place a premium on the security and welfare of our girls. We are all mothers. We will not allow any staff to endanger girls in this school.”
The Chairperson of the school’s Parents-Teachers Association, B.E Akhetuamen, also said the claims were an attempt to pull down Mr. Oshifala.
“I have two daughters schooling here,” she said.
“After six years in the school, I should be able to trust them to intimate me about things that happen in the school, especially when I ask. They have made it clear to me, no such thing occurred. Meanwhile, no parent has called me to make any such allegation against the teacher in question and I find it very strange.
Mrs. Akhetuamen said if such a thing had happened, the students themselves would have given the matter leverage.
QCOGA take a firm stand against the case of Sexual Harassment
Queen’s College Old Girls association has formed a committee that is committed to looking into these allegations and ensuring that justice is served and that the teacher in question will be fully investigated.
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