The Lagos state government announced on Wednesday that it has closed a private nursery, primary and secondary school. Greater Scholars International Schoollocated in the Ajah area of the state on charges of raping a four-year-old at the school.
In May, Newslodge reported how the girl’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Olusola, accused a school guard, identified simply as Mr. James, of raping their daughter.
They said the student complained of “vaginal pain” and later confirmed that Mr. James assaulted her.
Following the incident, relatives and representatives of non-governmental organizations stormed the school to demand justice for the boy and also called for the intervention of the state government.
The perpetrator has since been prosecuted for the offense and is currently remanded in custody at the Kirikiri Correctional Center in Lagos.
The state Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (LSDSVA) confirmed the development on its official X account, adding that the ongoing court case would resume on September 4.
Victim, parents in therapy
In a phone conversation with Newslodge on Thursday, Ms Olusola said the four-year-old had been through a couple of therapy sessions and is likely to return to school.
“She has another therapy coming up and we have another school, although as her mother, I’m not fully ready to put her back in school because I’m still traumatized,” she said.
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Ms. Olusola added that she and her husband have also had some therapy.
Also speaking to Newslodge, the founder of The Unbroken Foundation, a non-governmental organization focused on social and human rights, Sonia Obi-Okodo, said that her organization is still following up on the case.
“We have been on the case that is still in court. As expected, the guy pleaded not guilty, but he is still in remand in Kirikiri,” he said.
He noted that the government may have taken too long to close the school, but “we know they have to follow due process to make such an important decision.”
The school is silent
The victim’s mother also expressed her dissatisfaction with the management of the school.
“We have been attending the court sessions and the owner of the school has not yet communicated,” he said.
“We haven’t heard anything from the school so far, they haven’t contacted the family yet because they’re obviously still in denial.”
Mr Olusola praised the Lagos DSVA team for “keeping in touch with the family and helping out”.
When Newslodge contacted the school, only one of the three mobile numbers on its official website was connected, but no one answered the call.
In early May, an official, who declined to give an identity, declined to comment on the matter.
“The matter is already being investigated by the police, so we could not discuss it. Thank you,” the official said and ended the call.
accusations
The incident became public when a Twitter user with the handle @Omolomo accused the school of hiring thugs to threaten the girl’s parents, who had come to the school to report the results of the medical exam.
The manager, who also posted a photo of the school principal and the defendant, claimed that the school management had been reluctant and allegedly tried to sweep the matter under the rug.
Elaborating further, Mr and Mrs Olusola told Newslodge that their daughter, who is now in preschool, enrolled in school in January 2022, adding that they noticed she had been unnecessarily “down” before confirm the raid.
“She cried from pain in the vagina when she went to urinate on Sunday, April 30; then we saw bruises when we checked with a flashlight. This led us to take her to the hospital,” said Mrs. Olusola.
He noted that the daughter was immediately taken to Lifeline Children’s Hospital, Lekki, in Lagos, for a medical examination.
“Upon seeing the bruises, the pediatrician took us to a gynecologist for a test, who confirmed the injury and physical trauma as a result of an attempted forced penetration.
“We went to the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, and it was the same result. Although we were told that his hymen is still intact ”.
Olusola also pointed out that the 4-year-old girl said that when “she fell while playing with her friend, the security guard told her that there was a lot of dirt on her “wee wee”, that is, on her vagina, that he wanted to wash it.”
So maybe that’s how he attracted her. He could be doing the same to other girls at school,” she added.
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Let hear it in the comment below if you do have an opinion on this; Alleged violation: Lagos closes school, defendant prosecuted, in pretrial detention