After more than 72 hours in their custody, police yesterday freed Mr. Olaseni Osifala, who has been accused of sexually harassing a student of Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos. This came as Lagos State Government yesterday accused the authorities of Queen’s College of frustrating its investigation into the sexual abuse allegation levelled against the teacher. Osifala, who had been held at the Police Headquarters in Ikeja since Tuesday afternoon, was released allegedly after intervention of a former Lagos State deputy governor.
The former deputy governro, whose daughter attends the school, was said to have been contacted for intervention by the school management. When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Dolapo Badmos, confirmed that Osifala had been released.
She said: “We have suspended the interrogation of Mr. Osifala until next week.” According to a source, the school was worried about Osifala’s arrest because the police could not confirm any official complaint against him, and that the accuser has remained anonymous. “We are worried by the possible partisanship of the police in the case, because how can you arrest someone who voluntarily surrendered himself without any complainant.
That is the bad side of the Police,” the source said. Another source also said yesterday that members of the panel set up by the Federal Ministry of Education were yet to arrive Lagos.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mrs. Uzamat Akinbule-Yusuff, said the management of the college was frustrating government’s probe. Akinbule-Yusuff, who briefed journalists, said government would not condone act of irresponsibility from those expected to ensure that children are safe in their care. The commissioner added that government’s efforts were frustrated by the attitude the management of the college.
Akinbule-Yusuff called on the Federal Ministry of Education to urgently direct the officials of the school to cooperate with the state social workers in the best interest of the children. She said: “The Lagos State government has observed the uncooperative attitude of the school authorities and called for the temporary removal of those concerned. “Lagos State government will not stand by and watch, but will always act in accordance with the Child Rights Act.”
The commissioner challenged those behind the allegations of serial sexual abuse cases in the college to come forward and make an official report. She added that government was working in conjunction with the police. Also speaking at the briefing, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, said government was committed to the protection of all children in the state.
