ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE QUEENS COLLEGE SEXUAL HARASSMENT SAGA

Last month we were all shocked to read an agonizing letter from a mother who claimed her daughter had been sexually harassed by a Biology teacher at Queens College, Lagos. We will really like to see the end of this case but so far this is what we know:

Biology Teacher – Mr. Olaseni Osifala – was  accused of sexual harassment.

 

The mother of an SS2 student of Queens College, Yaba, Lagos Mrs. Chinenye Okoye according to reports credited to her by the social media revealed that one late Thursday night, her daughter called her on telephone and tearfully reported how the teacher allegedly cornered her on her way back from easing herself just before lights out.
In Mrs. Okoye’s words: “She told me that he called her and she thought 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 grabbed 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. But the students already know his ways, so they started booing him until the housemistress came out and chased them inside, telling them to be quiet and that nothing was actually going on… ”.
Mrs. Okoye alleged that she had tried to reach out  to the school authorities but it was sanctioned the teacher was rebuffed, and that the teacher continued to taunt the girl notwithstanding the claim of sexual harassment against him.

The Principal Speaks Up

 

The Principal, Mrs. Lami Amodu then came out to insist that the accused was innocent and was suffering from a smear campaign against his person. According to her, “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.”

The Students Staged a Protest

 

While we were trying to stomach this and find a way forward, a puzzling thing happened. The female students of Queens College rose in unison to defend a male teacher who has been accused by a fellow student of sexual harassment. Senior Secondary Three (SS3) students delayed their mock examination in biology to stage a protest in support of their biology teacher, Mr. Olaseni Oshifala. According to them, he was innocent.The question that begs to be answered – how did these little children know he is innocent?

Former students and 'victims' speak out

 

Many former students of QC began to share stories on social media of how Mr. Olaseni Oshifala harassed girls when they were at QC. Some stories were about his sexual harassment in other places he had worked before QC.

The Federal Ministry of Education and PTA Set up probe

 

The Federal Ministry of Education set up probe
The Parents Teacher association also set up investigation panel

The Police Also Steps In

 

Lagos State Commissioner of police, Mr Fatai Owoseni was said to have summoned the principal and the teacher of Queen’s College over the alleged sexual assault involving a female student. Some reports claim that Olaseni Oshifala‎ was detained before being released on bail.

The Whistle Blower Refuses to Come Out

 

Since the frenzy that trailed the initial coming out by the accuser, the accused has since refused to come out. The Parents/Teachers Association (PTA) of Queen’s College, appealed to Chinenye Okoye, the mother of the JSS2 pupil allegedly molested by a teacher, to come and pick her letter of invitation to appear before the ministerial panel set up to investigate the matter from its office.

PTA Clears Mr Oshifala

 

According to a report by The Nation:
THE Queen’s College Parents Teachers Association (QCPTA) has absolved a teacher, Mr Olaseni Oshifala, of sexually assaulting an unnamed pupil. The PTA described the report of the sexual assault as a hoax based on its investigation. It told the school’s old girls’ association to stop defaming Oshifala.Speaking with reporters at the Military Chapel in Jibowu, Yaba, Lagos Mainland, yesterday, the PTA Chairman, Mrs Beatrice Akhetuamen, said the facts provided by the complainant did not tally with anybody’s data in the school, adding that the investigations the old girls claimed to have conducted to indict Oshifala was based on sentiments not facts.

But investigation is Still Ongoing

 

The investigation panel set up by the Federal Government and the Education Minister has not been closed yet.

The investigation would, however be incomplete if the accuser does not step out.

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