Prof Abayomi Arigbabu, Ogun State Commissioner for Education, has said one Akanni Azeez Olawale, an SS3 student of Agbara Grammar School, in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the state, who allegedly assaulted one of the teachers of the school as well as his parents will soon be prosecuted.
Trouble was said to have started on Wednesday, February 14 when the Principal of the school, Mr Ajibola Olanrewaju, reportedly seized Olawale’s uniform for allegedly behaving unruly and in a manner that constituted lack of respect for constituted authority.
It was gathered that the principal was also said to have maintained that since Olawale had gone to register for the May/June West African Senior Secondary School Examinations in another private school, he had no business parading himself as a student of the school hence, the decision to seize his uniform.
A source who spoke with our correspondent said, “Olawale would however not take this kindly as he went back home and stormed the school some minutes later with his parents.
“All efforts to pacify and explain the situation of things to the parents failed as they started attacking the principal. It was in the course of this that the student, Olawale, slapped one of the teachers and tore his clothes.”
The Commissioner for Education, Prof Arigbabu, when contacted on Sunday confirmed that his office had been notified of the disturbing incident and that the student and the parents would soon be made to answer for their act of misdemeanour before a competent court of law.
Arigbabu said, “Yes, I am aware of the incident. It is condemnable and such won’t be allowed in our school. I am in touch with the relevant authorities and I can tell you that the boy and his parents will be prosecuted.
“I learnt that the parents are already begging but I have insisted that they will get to court. It is a challenge that we had in the past when some of these parents were joining their children to attack the teachers but since one of the parents bagged six months of community service, the rubbish has stopped.
“So, for this one too, the state government will prosecute those involved, that is the only way to send signals to others that may want to travel this unpopular and crude way.”
The Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS, Ogun State, Comrade Seun Agbesanwa, while condemning the incident, urged the state government to ensure that appropriate sanctions were meted out to those involved in the invasion and alleged assault on both the teacher and principal of the school.
