Ogun Government Clears School Proprietor of Defilement Charges, Cites Lack of Evidence

Ogun Government Clears School Proprietor of Defilement Charges, Cites Lack of Evidence

The Ogun State Government has officially withdrawn defilement charges against Mr. Ashafa Adelaja, proprietor of Perfect Life School, Igode-Remo, due to insufficient evidence.

Following an in-depth investigation, the state’s Ministry of Justice informed the Sagamu Magistrate Court on Thursday that no formal charges would proceed against Adelaja, leading to his release from correctional custody.

Adelaja had been remanded in prison since March over allegations of defiling a young pupil at his school. However, joint investigations by the Ministry of Justice and the police uncovered no evidence supporting the claim. The case stemmed from an incident in February 2025, when the child’s mother noticed signs of vaginal bleeding. After reporting it to the school headmistress—who is also Adelaja’s wife—the mother conceded that the incident likely didn’t happen at school, as the child’s underwear was unstained.

On March 14, the headmistress again noticed bleeding while the child was at school and promptly informed the mother, who then accused Adelaja of abuse. Medical assessments revealed no signs of sexual assault: the child’s hymen was intact, with no bruising or trauma found. Doctors attributed the bleeding to other, undisclosed medical conditions. Moreover, the child was enrolled in the nursery and primary sections overseen by the headmistress, not the secondary school led by Adelaja.

The Ministry of Justice highlighted the critical role of due process and warned against the spread of misinformation. It condemned a viral video by an uninformed individual who, without facts, publicly accused Adelaja, incited mob violence, and exposed confidential information about police officers involved in the case.

Reaffirming the need for impartiality, the ministry stressed that justice must protect the innocent from wrongful punishment. Adelaja’s ordeal was cited as a reminder of the dangers of public trials based on speculation rather than evidence.