The decision of the Ogun State Government on the Principal of Ajuwon Senior High School, Rev. Olufunke Aladeojobi, who allegedly conducted virginity tests on pupils of the school, has attracted public outrage.
The Commissioner for Education, Mr. Segun Odubela, had on Tuesday announced that the government would conduct a psychiatric examination on Aladejobi, adding that she would be sacked if she was found not to be of sound mind.The government, however, said it would demote her from grade level 16 to 15 if the test proved that she was sane.
But lawyers, human rights activists and a large number of online readers of the story on The PUNCH website flayed the state government for meting out “a mild punishment” for a serious criminal offence. They, however, welcomed its (government) plan to make Aladeojobi undergo a psychiatric test.
Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Mr. Bamidele Aturu, who had described Aladeojobi’s action as “bestial” said demotion was not a sufficient punishment for the magnitude of damage she had done to the pupils.
Aturu said, “If the outcome of the psychiatric examination that would be carried out on her shows that she is sane, then demotion is not a sufficient punishment that should be meted out to her.
“What the principal has done amounts to defilement, assault and battery which under the law are criminal offences. The government should hand her over to the police, while the attorney-general of the state must ensure that she is prosecuted.”
Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch, Mr. Monday Ubani, described the demotion as a “soft landing”, adding that the government had not taken the “feelings of the pupils and aggrieved parents” into consideration.
Ubani said, “The government has failed to take into cognizance the gravity of the offence committed by this principal in question. In other climes, government would have worked in collaboration with the parents of the affected pupils and ensure that justice is done. The Ogun State Government has played God and it is very unfortunate.”
President, Women Arise, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, said the punishment was “a slap on the wrist”.
“The inability to punish those who perpetrate heinous crimes like this encourages impunity. I think the government should have handed her over to the police for prosecution,” She said.
A reader, Clinton Uzoho, wrote, “A statutory rape – a felonious crime – was committed by this principal on a number of her students and the state says a demotion in rank would assuage the humiliation these children were put through.
“It is unbelievable. The government by this callous inaction is saying to other principals and criminals that they should go ahead and perpetrate heineous crimes because nothing will happen to them.”
A reader who identified himself simply as Austin wrote, “There is no justice for the kids. This principal should have been charged with child molestation long time ago. Why can’t justice prevail in this country?”
Another reader, Remi said, “Is this an act of gross violation of laid down rules? Or the code of conduct for the teaching service never envisaged such possibilities? One just wonders what lesson a demotion from level 16 to 15 was meant to teach.
“If the woman is found to be sane, she should be dismissed and prosecuted. If insane she should be rehabilitated with no further punishment. In addition all other principals of schools should be made to take the ‘Brain Test’, just in case.”
Meanwhile, sources at the Ogun State Police Command, told our correspondent on Wednesday, that police investigation into the incident had been delayed as a result of the work of the various panels and committees which prevented them from having access to Aladeojobi.
One of the police sources said, “Detectives at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, have been unable to carry out their investigation because the committee set up by the state government asked us to release her to them so that they can carry out their work. The Command has already written the Ogun State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to re-produce Aladeojobi since they have concluded their enquiry.”
When contacted, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, said the matter had not been swept under the carpet.
He said, “What I can tell you are that investigation has not been concluded and the case has not been swept under the carpet as it is being speculated. The Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, is working in collaboration with the Ogun State government and the parents of the affected pupils to ensure that justice prevails.
“The inquiry of the state government as well as the punishment is totally different from the work the police is doing in this case. The police will do the needful and we will not betray the trust the public has in us.”
Aladeojobi was said to have on December 10 invited a nurse to the school to carry out virginity test on a group of 10 pupils.
During the test, it was alleged that Aladeojobi, the school’s nurse, Mrs. M.B. Makinde, and another nurse whose name could not be ascertained, dipped their fingers into the pupils’ private parts.
Punch Nigeria
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