The management of Chrisland International School in Victoria Garden City (VGC) Lagos, has released a statement addressing the issue of a 47-year-old supervisor with the school, AdegboyegaAdenekan, defiling a 2-year-old pupil.
The little child had described the abuse in details in a video recording of her session with Miss Ogedengbe, a clinical psychologist, an expert in sexual and reproductive health behaviour in children and adolescents.
The video was played two days ago at the Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court.
Chrisland School, in the statement by its Communication Unit, clarified that the alleged abuse was said to have occurred in VGC, not Lekki as is reported and also described the reports a conspiracy.
“We believe there is a conspiracy against the Chrisland brand and this is nothing but paid journalism. We pray that the good Lord will vindicate us,” the statement read in part.
The management said it has built its reputation for over four decades without any scandal, stressing that, court proceedings have been wrongly reported.
The school also stressed that it maintains a zero-tolerance standard and had set up an investigation committee when the plaintiff blew it out of proportion.
Chrisland also questioned the motive and body language of the plaintiff.
“It all started when a mother alleged that her daughter was molested, and we were baffled that a mother could keep quiet and not notify the school or report for two weeks.
“We also wondered why she left the child in school for a month, if indeed she was molested in the same school,” the statement read.
“While we doubt that nothing of such could have happened within our premises (considering our safety measures and structures), we gave our word of assurance to leave no stone unturned and cooperate with the police and all agencies involved to get truth and justice.
“We also vowed to prosecute the accused, if found guilty. As a law–abiding organisation which believes so much in the judiciary, we have not interfered in anyway.”
In addition, the management said it became imperative to react because it had to protect the Chrisland brand.
“We write this with every sense of responsibility because it is imperative to explain the real situation concerning the above (RE: ALLEGED MOLESTATION OF CHRISLAND PUPIL).
“In our over forty years of existence, Chrisland has never been involved in any scandal or any situation that can tarnish the reputation we have built over four decades.
“Ours is an organisation with zero- tolerance to any abuse in whatever form, and we have put in place structures and policies to ensure child protection in all our schools.
“As stakeholders you deserve to know the true picture, therefore permit us to state the following:
“This case has been on since November 2016, and was alleged to have taken place in VGC and not Lekki as being circulated.
“It all started when a mother alleged that her daughter was molested, and we were baffled that a mother could keep quiet and not notify the school or report for two weeks.
“We also wondered why she left the child in school for a month, if indeed she was molested in the same school.
“We immediately set up a committee to investigate the allegation and also reported the matter at Ajah Police Station.
“While we doubt that nothing of such could have happened within our premises (considering our safety measures and structures), we gave our word of assurance to leave no stone unturned and cooperate with the police and all agencies involved to get truth and justice.
“We also vowed to prosecute the accused, if found guilty. As a law–abiding organisation which believes so much in the judiciary, we have not interfered in anyway.
“The Lagos State Quality Assurance officers visited the school twice, interviewed many people including parents, staff and pupils and conducted an extensive investigation but nothing was found.
“We issued a release in November 2016, which was published in the national dailies, stating our side of the story. The accused was remanded in prison for some weeks before he secured a bail.
“This issue erupted and took a fierce dimension, when the journalists who witnessed the court sitting last week, in solidarity with the plaintiff who is a blogger, started writing malicious stories (which are not the true picture of the court proceedings) being circulated online.
“At the court proceedings, journalists were warned to be mindful of their stories since the matter is still in court, and is still an allegation until the accused is found guilty, but they have continued with reckless abandon. This shows clearly that there is more to this case than meets the eye.
“We believe there is a conspiracy against the Chrisland brand and this is nothing but paid journalism. We pray that the good Lord will vindicate us.
“Please be assured that your children are in safe hands; we have successfully built a solid reputation over the last forty years and we continue to stand for excellence,” the statement read.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.
Really????? They’re worried about integrity and money they’re making instead of digging deep to find out the truth.