Virginity test: Principal to undergo psychiatric examination

The Ogun State Government on Tuesday said the principal of Ajuwon Senior High School, Rev. Olufunke Aladeojobi, who allegedly conducted virginity tests on pupils of the school, would be made to undergo a psychiatric examination.

Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Segun Odubela, said the government made the decision after considering the recommendations of the review panel set up to appraise the work of the committee that investigated the incident.

Odubela in a statement said Aladeojobi would be sacked if the outcome of the test revealed that she was of unsound mind adding that if otherwise, she would only be demoted and redeployed to the State Teaching Service Commission.

Odubela said, “The Ogun State Government, after considering an appraisal report submitted by a three-man panel, headed by Mr. Ambaliu Ishola, Permanent Secretary of the ministry has directed that Aladeojobi undergoes a psychiatric test to determine her mental state.

“The government accepted the recommendation that Aladeojobi should be relieved of her appointment, if found to be of unsound mind while she should be demoted from grade level 16 to grade level 15 and recalled back to the Teaching Service Commission headquarters if found to be sane.”

Odubela said the two school nurses who joined the principal in conducting the test have been “immediately redeployed” from the school, while both of them would be referred to the state ministry of health for necessary disciplinary action.

Odubela added that the state government also approved the immediate redeployment of all teachers including guidance counsellors who have spent up to five years in the school.

Odubela said, “The affected students are also to be referred to the state General Hospital for proper medical check-up and counseling.

“The Chairman, TESCOM, Mr. Bukunola Onabanjo, and I have been asked to meet members of the Parent-Teacher Association, staff and students of  the school to douse the tension generated by the virginity test incident.

“With these decisions, we have finally laid to rest the issue of virginity test in Ajuwon High School.”

Aladeojobi was said to have on December 10 invited a nurse to the school to carry out virginity test on a group of 10 pupils.

During the test, it was alleged that Aladeojobi, the school’s nurse, Mrs. M.B. Makinde, and another nurse whose name could not be ascertained, dipped their fingers into the pupils’ private parts.

But the matter got out of hand when one of the pupils started bleeding after she had been ‘tested.’

Punch Nigeria