The Lagos State Ministry of Education has vowed to pursue justice in the sex-for-marks scandal rocking Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Secondary School, Ojodu-Berger, where a Further Mathematics teacher allegedly sexually abused at least 11 female students in exchange for academic favours.
This was stated in a meeting with whistleblower Clement James, his legal team, and members of the Take It Back Movement on Monday.
The ministry pledged full commitment to investigating the allegations and ensuring that those culpable face the full wrath of the law.
“We want to assure you that we are taking this matter seriously and will work to ensure that justice is served,” a ministry official said.
He added: “We encourage anyone with information about irregularities to come forward, and we will do everything in our power to protect them from any form of intimidation.”
The ministry further commended James for his bravery in exposing the scandal and reiterated its willingness to receive similar reports.
“If you are invited by the government for questioning, do not be scared if you know you are in the right,” the official added. “We are committed to upholding justice and will not allow any case to be overturned unfairly.”
The statement was made to newsmen by the Take It Back Movement, which has been vocal about the need for accountability in the case.
The case, exclusively reported by newsmen, centers on Mr. Egberongbe Adegbenga Toheeb, a Further Mathematics teacher accused of sexually preying on his female students under the guise of offering academic help.
Disturbingly, several victims described how the teacher allegedly pressured them into hotel meetings or cornered them in classrooms, where he attempted to molest them.
“He said he wanted to help me with my maths,” one victim said. “But later, he started pressuring me to meet him in a hotel near Alagbon bus stop. That’s when I knew something was wrong.”
Another student recounted how Adegbenga removed his belt and attempted to assault her inside a classroom. “I had to fight him off and run,” she said.
Investigations by newsmen revealed that Mr. Adegbenga was not officially employed by the Lagos State government, but was hired directly by the school principal, Mrs. Osunrinde. Sources claimed that the abuse had been ongoing for years, shielded by the school’s leadership.
Instead of acting to protect the victims, the school administration allegedly went after the whistleblower, Clement James, a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member and former student of the school who played a central role in uncovering the abuse.
On March 24, 2025, James was reportedly lured back to the school, ambushed, and had his phone seized by teachers allegedly trying to delete evidence.
He told newsmen that he was locked in a toilet inside the principal’s office before managing to escape during an unannounced visit by the Education Quality Assurance department.
Teachers were even accused of turning students against him. One teacher, Mrs. Dikko, allegedly instructed her students to “chase him away” if seen on school premises.
Following public outrage, the Ministry of Education’s Monitoring and Investigation Department arrested Mr. Adegbenga and handed him over to the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA).
He was arraigned, remanded, and later granted bail in the sum of N300,000. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 22, 2025.
