…debunks complicity over demise of ‘pupil’
The Ogun State Government has debunked alleged complicity over a dead body found in Arakanga River suspected to be a pupil of Ilugun High School located in Elega Area of Abeokuta North Local Government.
A lifeless body of a teenager suspected to be a pupil of Ilugun High School (Junior) was found in Arakanga River at the weekend as rumour was rife that the victim and others were chased away by the School Principal (Junior) with the support of local security agents, prompting their resolve to swim through the river located at the back of the School.
Reports have it that one of them was unlucky as he was swept away by the rising river tides. The dead body of the victim was later found some days later, causing people in the area to concoct different versions of a story that led to the death of the pupil.
But, speaking at a Press Conference held in Abeokuta on Tuesday, Abayomi Arigbabu, Professor and Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, confirmed that the principal engaged in illegal collection of fees against the Government’s directive, but disowned the victim as one of the pupils of the School.
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He said, “Preliminary investigations reveal that the young man who lost his life was not a bonafide student of the school, with evidence pointing to an illegal enrolment.
“The deceased was found to have been using three different names; Babalola Ayornide, Salako Jimoh and Afolabi Babalola. None of which appeared in the State’s Education Database, OGSERA.
“In addition, we also discovered that the Principal of Ilugun High School (Junior) had been involved in the collection of illegal fees. In light of these findings, Government has decided to place both the Junior (Alaba Olukoga) and Senior (Temitope Ladipo) Principals of Ilugun High School on suspension while we conduct a thorough investigation into the immediate and remote causes of this unfortunate incident.
“Let me assure the good people of Ogun State that the Administration of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON remains unshaken in its commitment to provide free education for every school-age child in this State, irrespective of where they live, their gender, economic status, religious belief, or political affiliation”.
