Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Anambra-based journalist, Karen James, has demanded justice for over 600 pupils of Blessed Wisdom Model School, Housing Estate GRA Onitsha, in Anambra State.
Anambra State Government, through the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, had announced the immediate closure of the Onitsha-based school, following a report that a two-year-old pupil, Ifechukwu Egbuninwe, sustained grievous bodily harm, following a flogging incident in the school.
Since the school’s closure, James, an investigative journalist, had written series of petitions to the governor claiming that the closure was done without due diligence.
She regretted that no fewer than 600 innocent children have been adversely affected by the government’s decision.
She also said the school’s closure was against the plans of Governor Chukwuma Soludo who values education more than anything else, stressing that working against such plans would amount to ridiculing his legacy in building better future for school children in the state.
Her recent petition titled: “Letter to Governor Charles Soludo part 3,” questioned why the Commissioner decided to shut down the school without conducting a proper investigation or consulting with the doctor who treated the child in question.
She also accused the Commissioner of cooking up lies to cover up government’s action on the school.
The Petition read in part: “During a panel meeting held in relation to the closure of the school, a picture of an alleged battered baby was presented, the Commissioner took the picture with her phone, Pechilly investigative Channel Journalist was there when the commissioner snapshot the picture which the commissioner is claiming that the child had been injured all over her body.
“However, it was later revealed that the baby was sitting in the visitors’ room of the commissioner, chatting with her nanny. This casts doubt on the credibility of the commissioner’s claims, as it seems that she fabricated the story in order to justify her actions against the school.
“The commissioner’s decision to close down the school has put the lives of 600 students in danger, all for no good reason. By acting in this manner, she has made the governor appear dishonest in the eyes of the public, especially given the fact that he is a strong supporter of education.
“The commissioner has given various reasons for her actions, from a flogging incident to a shelf falling on the child, and then to negligence for not contacting the child’s parents. Now, she is claiming that the school is illegal. It is clear that she has been inconsistent in her statements and had not conducted a proper investigation into the matter.
“It seems that the commissioner’s behaviour is highly questionable and has caused unnecessary harm to innocent parties. It remains to be seen what action will be taken against her, but we hope that justice will prevail and that the school will be able to resume its operations safely and without further interference.”
