Alleged Immoral Act: Lagos State Govt. Closes Chrisland Schools

Following allegation of sexual violation involving some pupils during an international trip, the Lagos State Government on Monday wielded the big stick by announcing the shutting down of all Chrisland Schools in the State with immediate effect.

Chrisland Schools which is said to have seven branches in the State was alleged to have been involved in a cover up in an sexual violation which allegedly took place when the school led some of its pupils to Dubai in March to participate in the World School Games which was a four-day annual competition with schools from all over the world.

The Lagos State Government in a statement on Monday assured that all allegations are being investigated by the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including the Ministry of Education, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Ministry of Justice and the Lagos State Domestic & Sexual Violence Agency.

It also said that the criminal allegations have been escalated to the Commissioner of Police, adding that the State government is committed to ensuring that adequate medical and psycho social support is provided.

The statement further stated; “All Chrisland schools within Lagos State are hereby closed, pending further investigations.

“This is to reassure members of the public of the State Government’s commitment to safety and child protection, especially in ensuring that all child-centered institutions within the state, formulate and implement policies and systems that are compliant with the Executive Order (NO.EO/AA08 of 2016), Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Program.

“We also use this medium to remind the general public on the implications pertaining to engaging in any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a child commits an offence and is liable to custodial sentence of fourteen (14) years.

“This includes “producing, distributing, receiving, or possessing an image of child pornography,” it stated.

Chrisland School had suspended the 10-year-old female pupil involved in the act after accusing her of taking part in a Truth-Or-Dare game in Dubai.

Pupils of Chrisland Schools traveled to Dubai and participated in the World School Games which held from March 10-13, 2022.

But, on April 14, 2022, in a letter to the girl’s parent, the management of Chrisland School, Victoria Island Garden City informed the girl’s father that she took part in an “improper behaviour” after playing the Truth-Or-Dare game, saying that she was a “major participant”.

The school management in the letter signed by Georgia Azike, who is the Principal of the school said; “In line with our core values centred on discipline, Chrisland Schools have zero tolerance for any improper behaviour and misconduct,”

Azike also stated in the letter that other schoolmates who took part in the game had equally been suspended, stressing that the girl and her parents did not cooperate during its investigation.

In the words of Azike; “Consequently, (name withheld) is hereby placed on indefinite suspension until you as the parents ensure that she is punished, adequately counseled and rehabilitated”.

It was gathered that the schools letter was obtained hours after social media claims about the matter emerged just as the mother of the girl child in a video that has gone viral said that pregnancy test was conducted on her daughter without her consent, adding that the school initially muted the case.