The Federal Government’s panel set up to
investigate an allegation of sexual assault levelled against a Biology teacher
at Queen’s College, Lagos, has submitted their report to the ministry.
The Parent-Teacher Association of the school has accused
the old girls’ association of plotting to remove the principal, Dr. Lami Amodu,
and replace her with one of them.
The PTA and the Queen’s College Old Girls’
Association have differed on the allegations. While the PTA described the
allegations against the teacher, Mr. Olaseni Oshifala, as baseless, the QCOGA
had in a statement argued that the allegations were not “unfounded”.
The PTA alleged that, a faction of the QCOGA, led
by one Mrs. Laila St. Mathew-Daniels, is determined to install a deputy director
from the Federal Ministry of Education, whom they said was an ‘old girl’.
The news briefing carried out by Punch news paper
was not meant to pre-empt the outcome of the Federal Government panel. The PTA wants
Chinenye Okoye, the purported parent, who accused Oshifala of molesting her
daughter to surface, but they are yet to do that.
Mrs.
Beatrice Akhetuamen, who is the PTA chairperson of the school in company with
five other parents of the school, said this on Tuesday in Lagos.
Mrs Beatrice also confirmed that all parents were
invited to come out and say if they know the parent who bears the name but no
one has shown up.
Akhetuamen stated, “It baffles me why a section
of the old girls are bent on denting the image of the college. I was in a
meeting with the ‘old girls’ and they almost lynched me because I was saying
the truth.
“The ‘old girls’ are about to have the principal
removed. We learnt that they want to have her removed because the principal is
a Muslim and a northerner. But why can’t we tolerate one another if this indeed
is a unity college?
“I am restating it here that once this faceless
parent comes out with her facts, we will stand behind her and fight for her. If
she cannot come out, let her husband come out. If she was bold enough to go to
the social media, she should be bold enough to substantiate her claims. She
should come out with her daughter’s school file number and all receipts.’’
Another parent, Mr. Richard Ugwuka, added that he
would not support the transfer of the teacher unless he was found guilty of the
allegations.
Ugwuka added, “If he is found innocent, I would
not want him transferred because QC would be losing a good hand. Biology is a
subject where our children have been getting excellent grades. If he is not
found guilty and is transferred, what that means is that anybody, who has an
axe to grind with anybody, can just send a letter to the social media.”
“We should watch what we do. What that means is
that there is now a method to deal with somebody once you do not like his or
her face.
“We are getting to a point where young
intelligent male teachers will be avoiding Queen’s College because they will
not want to be accused falsely and have their career destroyed. There are key science
areas like biology, physics and chemistry and teachers in this subject are on
the decline. When you have a good one, you do not let such a teacher go because
of any unproven allegation.
“We have said it again and again, if Oshifala is
found guilty, let him be sacked and jailed.”
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