FG Hints On Prosecution Of Suspects Linked To Assaulted Ondo Teacher, As Student’s Father Petitions IGP

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Ministry of Education has taken over the assault case involving a secondary school student and his mother in Ondo State who used suspected thugs to beat up a Vice Principal for disallowing the student to cheat during the West African School Certificate Examination, (WASCE).

Already, the Ondo State Police Command has arrested the student, mother and three other persons over the assault of the vice principal, Mr Rotifa.

Meanwhile, the father of the student, Elisha Imokhuede, has introduced another dimension into the incident as he raised allegation of abduction against the Vice Principal, in a petition to the Inspector General of Police, (IGP).

The Federal Ministry of Education in a statement on Tuesday, “strongly condemns, in its entirety, the unfortunate incident which occurred at Complete Child Development College, Aule, Akure, Ondo State, where suspected thugs, allegedly hired by the parents of a student, assaulted the Vice Principal, Mr. Rotifa, for performing his lawful duty of upholding the integrity of the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).”

The statement, signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director, Press and Public Relations, stated  “We commend the swift response of Executive Governor of Ondo State His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, and the State Police Command in arresting the suspects, including Mrs. Dorcas Asije and four accomplices.

“We urge that thorough investigations be concluded and all culprits duly prosecuted to serve as a deterrent.

“The Ministry, under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, reiterates its zero tolerance for examination malpractice, intimidation of school staff, and any form of unethical conduct from students, parents, or guardians.

“Any student found engaging in examination malpractice will face sanctions in line with national examination guidelines.

“Furthermore, any parent or guardian who enables, supports, or participates in such criminal behaviour will be prosecuted under the law.

“The Honourable Minister stated that all schools are encouraged to promptly report any threats or breaches of conduct during examinations to law enforcement agencies and relevant educational authorities.

“We are working in collaboration with state ministries of education, law enforcement agencies, and examination bodies to enhance the security and integrity of our examination processes.

“The Federal Ministry of Education stands firmly with the management and staff of Complete Child Development College, and by extension, all education stakeholders nationwide who continue to uphold the values of discipline, accountability, academic excellence, and who resist examination malpractice.”

But Imokhuede, in a petition to the IGP, made available to Journalists in Akure on Tuesday, alleged that “the school’s Vice Principal stormed my neighborhood in the company of unidentified men.

“Shockingly, they forcefully took my 13-year-old nephew, Gideon Osesa—a student of FUTA Secondary School—who was running some errands for his mother, from the roadside into a vehicle.

“Fearing it was a case of kidnapping using a police vehicle, given there was no initial invitation and how he frantically pleaded and screamed, concerned neighbours raised an alarm and gave chase. The child’s mother, upon being informed, joined the pursuit to rescue her son.

“During the ensuing chaos, one of the men, who later identified himself as the Vice Principal, suffered a minor physical injury. We are not aware of the exact circumstances leading to this, but we understand it occurred during the commotion sparked by fear of an abduction. There is video evidence of the entire encounter.”