• Police invite principal, teacher as college set up panel
• SS1, old students protest
By Gabriel Dike
THE controversy surrounding the alleged sexual harassment of a JSS 11 student at Queen’s College (QC), Yaba, Lagos, by a male teacher remained unresolved days after the issue was posted online by the mother of the student.
Daily Sun gathered that the college management, the Parent Teacher Association and even the police do not have record of any reported sexual harassment by the mother. The matter took a new twist as the college management set up a panel to look into the issue.
Days after the mother raised the alarm, the identity of the JSS 11 student remained unknown even as her colleagues claimed they neither know the female student nor were they aware of the incident.
Our Correspondent also discovered that the identity of the woman who raised the alarm remained a mystery as nobody has come forward to claim responsiblility for the online story.
The PTA which the complainant belonged says it does not have any report from a member about her daughter being harassed by the male teacher. Since Saturday, the allegation of sexual harassment of a JSS 11 female student.
On Monday, QC students in SSS111 numbering over 120 staged a protest within the college in support of the embattled teacher while some old students who he taught also carried out a protest in front of the college gate condemning the allegation.
Daily Sun learnt from a teacher that the principal of the college and the teacher were invited by the Commissioner of Police Lagos Command but could not say whether the faceless parent (woman) was also invited for questioning by the police boss.
Addressing newsmen on the allege sexual harassment, the chairman, Parent-Teacher Association of the college, Mrs. Beatrice Akhetuamen, said the school authorities on reading the report online swung into action ‘’even though we are yet to receive any official report, oral or written, from any parent or student to that effect.’’
She said: ‘’The college has set up an investigation panel comprising some Vice Principals, PTA chairman and senior boarding house mistress, to look into the accusation levelled in the online report.
‘’At the centre of these accusation is Mr. Osifala, a male staff of the college, who does not live in the college. In the write-up, the aggrieved parent mentioned that she had made an oral report to our Vice Principals, Mrs. Njoku and Mrs. Kayode. As at the time of making this report, both staff have not received any parent with such allegations. Neither had I as the PTA chairman nor the Principal received any.’’
Akhetuamen explained that QC is committed to providing a conducive environment without any hindrances whatever for students and staff noting ‘’the different management that had served in the college have spent decades building a good reputation for the college as one of the leading colleges in Nigeria.
According to her, the college would go to extra length to protect the hard earned reputation warning that if any staff is found to be guilty, he or she would be presented to relevant authorities.
She stated that QC is particular about safety of the students and teachers adding that in September 2014, the PTA invested in CCTV cameras situated in strategic parts of the college. ‘’We assure you that we will get to the root of this matter, the PTA boss noted.’’
She took newsmen round the female hostels which showed that the toilets are located inside the building contrary to the woman who said the daughter was harassed outside and asked that since the college do not allow students to use phone, how did the JSS pupil call her mother around 11pm.