The
management of Queens College, Lagos, has thrown its weight behind one of its
teachers accused of sexually assaulting a female student.
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 on Sunday.
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.”
Mrs. Amodu said before her resumption at Queens College, a
former principal of Kings College, Dele Olapeju, had recommended Mr. Oshilafa
as a credible person to work with.
“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.
“It would
not have needed a blogger to break the story,” she said.
“There is a policy against use of phones in the college but we
hear rumours that some students smuggle in phones. Do you imagine that such
students would not have called their parents with the gist? And for all this
time that the event allegedly occurred (one month now) do you think that no
parent would have raised eyebrows?
“When I asked my daughter about this story, she said she only
started hearing about it today. I am an Edo woman, I speak from my heart
because I fear only God. Even if I face anybody now, I can defend him (Olaseni)
authoritatively. I have always recommended him to every principal that was
posted here.”
On claims that Mr. Oshifala assaulted the student near the
boarding house, D. A Oludinmu, the Senior Boarding House Mistress at the
school, admitted Mr. Osifala comes around the hostel because he is the Hostel
Maintenance Officer.
“But there is a procedure for that,” she noted.
“He never comes without the permission of the principal and even
during emergencies, he does not come alone. The principal still has to permit
him, and he always comes with the maintenance boys.
“Mr Olaseni does not come to the hostel outside working hours. I
can vouch for him.”
The school’s head girl said no male staff lives within the
school compound.
“They also said they saw our teacher with alcohol after lights
out. This cannot be true because he speaks against alcohol in class. He is our
Biology teacher, not Integrated Science,” she said.
“Knowing him from J.S.S 1 to S.S. 3 now, I can say that the allegations
are wrong. No, I just heard the story this morning. My statement cannot be
doctored.
“Yes, we complain to him when we have problems in the hostel.
These problems include bad electric bulbs, water problems, etc.”
The man at the centre of the storm, Mr. Osifala, said there’s no
truth in the entire incident.
“I have been accused falsely. Students have openly confessed to
being recruited to frame me up in the past,” he said.
“The teachers were there. They can tell you the truth. All I
want is to be the best teacher I possibly can. The reason I always win the
awards is a function of my drive for excellence.
“It ensures that I am always busy. My work is not secret. I am
an open book. I know that whatever I say now will not matter to those whoade up
their minds to judge me. Let God take control.”
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