Lagos Education Ministry summons whistleblower in sex-for-coaching scandal

The Lagos State Ministry of Education has summoned Clement James, the whistleblower who exposed a sex-for-marks scandal at Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Secondary School in Ojodu-Berger, Lagos.

The scandal involves serious allegations of sexual misconduct by Mr Egberongbe Adegbenga Toheeb, a Further Mathematics teacher accused of sexually abusing at least 11 female students.

According to multiple accounts, the teacher allegedly lured students under the pretext of providing academic assistance, only to later coerce them into sexual relationships.

In a message sent to James on Friday, the ministry directed him to appear before the Office of Education Quality Assurance on Monday, April 7, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Room 217 of the agency's office.

James, a National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, member and a former student of the school, played a central role in bringing the abuse to light. However, his efforts have reportedly been met with hostility from school authorities, who are alleged to have attempted a cover-up and retaliated against him.

One of the victims shared that her ordeal began in Senior Secondary 1 when Mr Adegbenga offered to help her improve her mathematics grades. The teacher allegedly used that opportunity to groom her and eventually pressured her into meeting him at a hotel near Alagbon bus stop.

Another student recounted an incident where the teacher allegedly cornered her in a classroom, removed his belt, and attempted to assault her before she managed to escape.

Investigations by Sahara Reporters revealed that Mr Adegbenga was not employed by the Lagos State government but was personally hired by the school principal. Sources claim he had been engaging in similar conduct for years before any formal complaint was made.

Rather than taking action to protect the victims, the school management allegedly targeted James in an attempt to silence him.

On March 24, 2025, he was reportedly invited back to the school under false pretenses. Upon arrival, several teachers allegedly seized his phone in an attempt to delete incriminating evidence. When he resisted, male teachers were said to have blocked the exit while the vice principal recorded the encounter.

James further alleged that he was forcibly locked in a toilet inside the principal’s office. He was only able to escape when officials from the Education Quality Assurance department arrived unexpectedly.

Additional reports indicate a coordinated effort to discredit James among students. One teacher, identified as Mrs Dikko, allegedly instructed SS1E students to chase him away if he returned to the school premises.

Following public outcry, 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 subsequently arraigned in court, where he was remanded and later granted bail set at ₦300,000. His next hearing is scheduled for April 22, 2025.

Despite the legal proceedings, school authorities have refused to acknowledge their role in shielding the accused teacher.