The Ogun State Government has officially withdrawn defilement allegations against the proprietor of Perfect Life School, Igode-Remo, Mr. Ashafa Samson Adelaja, citing lack of evidence following a thorough investigation.
Mr. Adelaja, who had been remanded in prison custody since March 2025 over claims of sexually molesting a pupil in his school, was unconditionally released on Thursday after the Ministry of Justice informed the Chief Magistrate of the Sagamu Magisterial District that there was no basis to proceed with prosecution.
In a detailed statement issued by the Ministry, the government emphasized that all investigations—carried out by the police and independently reviewed—showed that the accused did not defile the three-year-old girl.
“The facts, as investigated by the police and evaluated by the Ministry of Justice, did not support the allegation,” the statement read. “The victim had first exhibited signs of bleeding at home in February 2025, which the mother reported to the headmistress—Mr. Adelaja’s wife—without attributing the cause to any incident at the school.”
Further findings revealed that during a subsequent episode at school on March 14, 2025, the headmistress observed fresh bleeding while the child was using the toilet. The victim’s mother was immediately contacted and shown both the soiled toilet and cleaning materials used.
However, shortly afterward, the child’s mother alleged that her daughter had been defiled by Mr. Adelaja.
Medical reports, however, contradicted the claims. “Examination showed no sign of sexual abuse,” the ministry disclosed. “There were no bruises around or inside the vaginal area, and the hymen remained intact. The bleeding was caused by a medical condition that cannot be publicly disclosed.”
The government noted that the accused, as principal of the secondary school, had no direct access to the victim who was in the nursery and primary section under his wife’s supervision.
Describing the decision to drop charges, the ministry said, “The Ministry is mandated by law to ensure that only well-founded cases are prosecuted in court. Justice is not driven by outrage or online mobs, but by evidence and law.”
Reacting to the public condemnation that followed the initial arrest, the Ministry condemned what it called “trial by social media,” citing a viral video that wrongly convicted the accused in the public space.
“One individual circulated a damaging video, accused the Governor of negligence, and even revealed personal details of police officers,” the statement said. “This reckless behavior led to Mr. Adelaja’s school being vandalized, his name dragged through the mud, and his freedom unjustly taken.”
The government warned against jungle justice and vigilante reactions that often bypass legal procedures. “Everyone deserves justice—victims and the accused alike,” the statement noted. “Ours is a justice system that ensures the guilty are punished, but also that the innocent do not suffer wrongfully.”
The Ministry concluded by reaffirming the importance of due process: “Mr. Adelaja’s case is a stark reminder that rushing to condemn without facts can destroy lives. Justice must never be sacrificed for sentiment.”
