Lagos State Police Command has arrested one Emmanuel Madueke, a 62-year-old proprietor of Megland Comprehensive School, Lekki in the State, for allegedly sexually assaulting and harassing a 14-year-old student of his school.
This is contained in a statement issued and released on Sunday to newsmen by Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT).
It stated that the proprietor sexually harassed the student on May 26, the day schools celebrated Children’s Day.
According to the Coordinator of the DSVRT, Mrs Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, a team comprising of officers of Lagos State Office of Education Quality Assurance, Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development and DSVRT visited the school on June 17 to investigate the claims.
The visit was based on Lagos State Government’s Executive Order on Safeguarding and Child Protection Programme, 2016.
Investigations allegedly revealed that the perpetrator had developed a cordial relationship with the senior secondary school student before allegedly perpetrating the illegal act.
DSVRT stated;
In an interview with the student by the team, she disclosed that the school proprietor during the school’s Children’s Day celebration made advancement toward her. He kissed her on her lips but she was able to push him away and ran out of his office.
She added that since the incident, she had made every effort to distance herself from the proprietor.
According to the statement, in his reaction to the allegations, Madueke claimed that his action was an innocent gesture on the student’s cheek.
It added;
Further investigations revealed that the affected student might not be the only student to have fallen victim to sexual harassment in the hands of the alleged perpetrator.
It was further alleged that Madueke tactically grooms female students who become acquainted with him promising educational advancement as a reward to them.
The statement said Madueke’s actions contravened Child’s Rights Law 2015 and Sections 135, (Indecent treatment of a child) and 263 (Sexual Assault) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
Following the revelations from DSVRT’s investigation, the case was reported to Ilasan Police Division and that investigations were currently ongoing by Gender Desk Department of Police Command.
DSVRT added;
Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment in ensuring the protection of children from all forms of sexual and gender-based violence. No form of Sexual and Gender Based Violence will be tolerated in the State.
Via NAN.
