The Lagos State Ministry of Education has summoned Clement James, the whistleblower who uncovered the s*x-for-marks scandal at Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Secondary School in Ojodu-Berger.
The scandal involved allegations of s*xual abuse of at least 11 female students by a Further Mathematics teacher, Mr. Egberongbe Adegbenga Toheeb.
A message sent to James on Friday, which was obtained by SaharaReporters, reads: “Please, I have the directive to invite you to the office on Monday, 7th April, 2025. Time: 10.00am. Venue: Office of Education Quality Assurance (Room 217).”
The invitation comes amid allegations that the school management had attempted to cover up the scandal and intimidate James for exposing the abuse.
The s*x-for-marks scheme came to light after students began speaking out about how Mr Adegbenga allegedly lured them under the pretence of offering academic assistance but later coerced them into s*xual relationships.
One of the victims narrated how the abuse started when she was in Senior Secondary 1 class.
According to her, the teacher initially pretended to help her improve her mathematics scores but later pressured her to meet him at a hotel near Alagbon bus stop.
Another student detailed how he cornered her in a classroom, removed his belt, and attempted to assault her before she managed to escape.
Investigations by SaharaReporters revealed that Mr. Adegbenga was not an official government teacher but was personally hired by the school principal. Sources said he had allegedly been abusing students for years before the scandal broke.
Instead of protecting the victims, the school administration allegedly turned against James, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member and former student of the school, who played a key role in bringing the issue to light.
On March 24, 2025, James was reportedly lured back to the school under false pretences, only to be ambushed. Teachers allegedly seized his phone in an attempt to delete evidence. When he resisted, male teachers reportedly blocked the door while the vice principal recorded the incident.
James also alleged that he was locked in a toilet inside the principal’s office and was only able to escape when officials from the Education Quality Assurance department arrived for an unannounced visit.
Further reports indicated that some teachers were instructed to turn students against James, with one, Mrs. Dikko, reportedly telling students in SS1E to chase him away if they saw him.
Following public outrage, the Lagos State Ministry of Education’s Monitoring and Investigation Department arrested Mr. Adegbenga and handed him over to the Lagos State Domestic and S*xual Violence Agency (DSVA).
He was later arraigned, remanded, and granted bail in the amount of N300,000. His next court hearing is scheduled for April 22, 2025.
Despite the legal proceedings, school authorities have refused to acknowledge their role in shielding the accused teacher.
When SaharaReporters contacted the principal, Mrs. Osunrinde, she declined the call and later blocked the number. The vice principal, Mrs. Longe, also refused to comment, saying, “The matter is in court, and I will not make any comment on it.”
The Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, also declined to speak on the issue, stating that it would be “prejudicial” to discuss an ongoing case.
