Queens College students have come out enmasse to protest against the media for demonising Olaseni Osifala, the Biology teacher accused of sexually molesting a JSS2 student.
When Osifala's story went viral last weekend, angry Nigerians called for his transfer to another school (an all-male school), suspended or fired (and prosecuted).
However, the sudden protest of students in support of the teacher, has left many in shock. They carried placards debunking allegations that Osifala is a serial paedophile.
Victims Mother Exposes Teacher's Sexual Harassment
Olaseni Oshifala, a Biology teacher, was 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.
Below is the story she published on the internet.
"I would like to report the management of Queen's College Yaba. As I write, the principal and vice principals have, over a month now, deliberately suppressed several complaints of sexual harassment which my daughter and some other students have consistently reported to their class teacher, their year head, the head of department of the accused teacher and the principal's office.
"My daughter is in JSS2, second term at Queen's College. During their visiting day in first term she complained to me that there is an Integrated Science teacher, Mr Oshifala who has been harrassing her and some other students. I asked her if the man had touched her and she said no, he only tells them that they are looking beautiful and he wants to marry them. I dismissed her complaints as typical compliments from a teacher.
"However, two weeks later, on Thursday, she called me late at night and she was crying bitterly. I could barely hear what she was saying until after I had calmed her down. Me myself I was scared, wondering what had happened. She told me then that this same Mr Oshifala, who by the way, lives in the boarding house ares, had cornered her on her way back from easing herself just before lights out. 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. I told my daughter to calm down and prayed with her and I told her not to leave her dorm room unless with another student.
"I got to the school first thing the next day and spoke with the housemistress who confirmed to me that the story was true. but she warned me that the Mr Oshifala is a favourite of the Vice Principal Mrs Kayode. I spoke to a couple of otehr teachers and they all confirmed this story and the Mr Oshifala's tendencies. The teachers also mentioned that he had ben reported before at the Abuja Headquarters for sexual harassment and he was almost sacked until he begged this same Vice Principal who squashed the complaints.
"I went to the vice principal myself and complained to her about my daughter's issue. Mrs Kayode and anothe Vice Principal Mrs Njoku were both in the room when I entered. From the looks on their faces, I knew my daughter wa stelling the truth. Mrs Njoku soon left and it was just me and Mrs Kayode. She then told me (and these are her words) that even though my daughter was telling the truth, Oshifala is her man and he does a lot of work for her and there is nothing me or anyone can do to move him out of the school. She also turned around to threaten me that if I like, I can go to Abuja to report, nothing would happen. And that I should not forget that this is a government school so instead of her or Mr Oshifala being sacked, my daughter would be dismissed instead!!
"As I type this, I have already found another school for my daughter. She has left the boarding house and once their exams are over she would leave Queen's College. She told me that this Mr Oshifala sees her every time she has class in the labs but she never goes there alone, only when her friends are with her. She says he always tells her that her mother tried to report him, but in the end she is the one who would leave the school while he would remain.
"These people wanted to traumatize my daughter!! They know this man is a child molester and yet they still keep him not only in the school but in the boarding house area where these young girls live. He is free to roam about at night drunk as a skunk and no one does anything because of his connections.
"Even worse, they now have young men as security guards who, some parents have even complained at the last PTA meeting are already harassing their daughters.
"I beg you to please expose these people. They think they are bigger than just one parent, but I know one day their time will come.
"Please feel free to contact me if you need any more details. I hope their evil deeds come to light and they get the punishment they deserve. [Chinenye]."
Queens College Management Responds To The Allegations
The management of Queens College, Lagos, has thrown its weight behind Olaseni Oshifala, a Biology teacher, 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.”
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.
“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.”