Viral video: School seeks review of case file of ex-teacher accused of defilement
The management of Great Kezino Nursery and Primary School, Ikorodu has urged the Lagos State Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice to review the case file involving a former teacher, Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba,
The management of Great Kezino Nursery and Primary School, Ikorodu has urged the Lagos State Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice to review the case file involving a former teacher, Ambassador Rukayat Tobiloba, who recently claimed in a viral video that she was about to be jailed for alleged defilement.
The school said the case, which has been in court for several years, is still pending and awaiting legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The school insisted that a thorough review of the matter would help ensure that justice is done and that no innocent person is punished for offences they did not commit.
The call followed reactions generated by a trending video posted by Tobiloba, in which she alleged that the court intended to imprison her over a defilement allegation.
However, the school, through its Head Teacher, Mrs. Toyin Edaolaropin, issued a detailed clarification, stating that the teacher and another staff member, Mrs. Rukayat Lawal, were originally arraigned on allegations of negligence after a complaint involving a pupil.
Mrs. Edaolaropin maintained that contrary to the narrative circulating on social and conventional media, the school supported Tobiloba throughout the legal process.
She explained that immediately the matter arose, the school engaged a competent lawyer who promptly secured Tobiloba’s bail to prevent her being remanded in custody.
According to her, members of staff who barely knew the teacher personally even volunteered to stand as her guarantors despite the legal implications.
She said Tobiloba had worked with the school for barely two months before the incident occurred and later left the school’s employment shortly after the matter was reported at the police headquarters.
“Even after she left our service for another school, we continued to support her because we believed nothing happened to the alleged victim within the custody of the school,” she said.
She further stated that the school spent significant resources on legal representation for nearly four years, covering Tobiloba’s transportation, feeding, and welfare during court appearances.
“At every court session, at least four representatives of the school accompanied her, all at the expense of the school,” Toyin added.
She also said after about a year of litigation, the court discharged the assistant class teacher who was initially joined in the case.
In addition, the school’s legal counsel, Abiodun Kolawole wrote to the office of the Attorney General requesting a review of the report that allegedly indicted Tobiloba.
According to her, the school also facilitated a hearing before a committee of the Lagos State House of Assembly to seek a review of the DPP report to ensure the teacher would not be unfairly punished.
Mrs. Edaolaropin further said that the teacher later became reluctant to attend court proceedings.
“She last appeared in court on November 10, 2023. After that, the case was adjourned to March 5, 2024.
“When she informed us that she was pregnant, the court granted another adjournment to August 5, 2024,” she said.
She added that the teacher later informed the school she had relocated to Ibadan and was no longer interested in attending the court proceedings.
Read Also: 6.4 million Children in Nigeria’s northeast face acute malnutrition, says ICRC
Following her prolonged absence, the court eventually issued a bench warrant for her arrest after she failed to appear for several hearings.
Tobiloba was subsequently arrested and remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre on March 10, 2025, after allegedly jumping bail.
She said the school later disengaged the lawyer earlier hired by the institution after Rukayat opted to retain another legal counsel.
The management said it had since stepped back from the case and only became aware of the renewed public attention following the viral video.
It, however, urged the Attorney-General and the DPP to review the case file thoroughly to ensure that the legal process, ultimately, serves justice.
