According to a reliable source, those present at the meeting are police officers, officials of the Education Quality Assurance and that of the Directorate of Public Prosecution, Chrisland school authorities including the affected teachers, parents of the affected students, Channels Television reports.

The source further said that no student was sighted as against the earlier scheduled invitation by the police for all parties involved to report to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, for detailed investigations.

A mother had alleged that her daughter was sexually abused during the school’s participation in the World School Games at Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Though the school management said the female pupil was among 76 pupils that represented the school at the Dubai event, which was held between March 8 and 14, 2022, it said the allegation of rape was false.

Rather, the school located in the Victoria Garden City area of the state said two pupils of the school engaged in what the school described as “sexual misconduct” in a game called ‘Truth or Dare,’ when the act occurred after lights out.

The school authorities subsequently suspended the female student (name withheld) indefinitely, stating that she was “a major actor” in the “immoral act”.

The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed this on Tuesday said all parties involved in the matter had been contacted and directed to report to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, today.

Giving an update on the matter, Hundeyin said, “All the parties involved have been invited to the State Criminal Investigation Department Panti today to give a written statement and further questioning will be done.”

Hundeyin, however, could not immediately ascertain if the invited persons had reported to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, at the time of this report.

The parties involved include the school’s head teacher, G.I. Azike; and the parents of the female pupil who alleged that their daughter was sexually abused during the school’s participation in the World School Games at Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Amid the controversy trailing the alleged abuse of the minor, police authorities in Lagos had vowed to ensure that justice was served in the matter.

UNICEF stressed that violence is carried out against one in four Nigerian children and the longer the pandemic goes on, the more intense its impact.

However, UNICEF said children are resilient, talented, and aspire to do great things, stressing that it is the responsibility of the government to give them the platform and encouragement to grow.

UNICEF’s Country Director, Peter Hawkins disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

The statement said, “It has been a challenging year for us all with the COVID-19 pandemic – not least of all, Nigeria’s children – and I want to commend efforts at all levels of Nigerian government and society to protect education, health, and protection services in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children.

“As we rightfully celebrate Nigerian children today, let us also remember that the COVID-19 crisis has been a child rights crisis – in Nigeria and around the world.

“Poverty is rising, inequality is growing, and the pandemic has often disrupted the essential services that secure the health, education and protection of children and young people.

“The longer the pandemic goes on, the more intense the impact on women and children.

“On this Nigerian Children’s Day, let us all agree that we cannot let one crisis compound another.

“The pandemic is threatening decades of progress we have made for children.

“Violence is perpetrated against one in four Nigerian children – and one in three Nigerian girls are sexually abused. This has only increased during the pandemic.

“Today of all days, we must commit to reinforce the protection mechanisms for all children.

“But we have learned from this pandemic too. One thing we have learned is that education takes place not only in schools – children can and should learn both in and out of school.

“A learning continuum is critical so that all children continue to get an education irrespective of their situation, location, or the pandemic.

“Nigerian children are resilient, talented and aspire to do great things. And it is our responsibility to give them the platform and encouragement to do just that.

“We know that protecting children and investing in women and families is not only the right thing to do – it has proven to be a sound economic choice and a cost-effective tool for national development.

“As we celebrate our children today, we must act in their best interests and deploy innovative solutions to fast-track learning and health services to build back better, for every Nigerian child.”

News outlets report Bevin issued the pardon Friday, saying that Paul Donel Hurt was wrongly convicted of first-degree sexual abuse and sodomy in Louisville in 2001. Hurt’s accuser recanted her testimony at a hearing in 2015, but the conviction stood.

“Hindsight is never truly 20/20, but it appears to me, and to many others including the judge who sentenced him, that Paul Donel Hurt has been wrongly convicted and imprisoned for nearly 20 years,” Bevin wrote, according to the Courier-Journal.

Circuit Court Judge Audra Jean Eckerle ruled the recantation was inconsistent. She also expressed concern because the trial judge in the case had communicated with Hurt and the victim after retiring from the bench. Eckerle says the trial judge “altered” the victim’s memory and testimony “by using judicial coercion and intimidation.”

An appellate court later upheld that ruling.

Hurt was released from the Kentucky State Reformatory on Friday.

The paper reported that a spokesman for the Commonwealth’s Attorney Tom Wine said there were issues “raised during those post-conviction matters that make it easy  to understand why the governor would question the validity of the conviction.” An after-hours email from Fox News to Bevin’s office was not immediately returned.

Bevin conceded in his reelection bid against Democrat Andy Beshear earlier this month after the initial vote results were deemed too close to call. Bevin said during a news conference in Frankfort that he was conceding because he wanted “what is best for Kentucky.”

Houston County Circuit Judge Todd Derrick placed a 615-year sentence on Raven Smith after hearing a plea from the mother of one of the girls.

“I can’t believe what I said meant that much to a judge to punish this man the way I wanted him to be (punished),” the unidentified mother told WTVY-TV.

Smith, aged 35, openly admitted to the sex crimes against the girls — all under the age of 16 — and apologized to them in court. He was charged with multiple counts of sodomy, sexual abuse, and rape.

District Attorney J.T. Jones almost teared up while describing Smith’s crimes to the judge.

“When you deal with cases that involve children, particularly young children, it’s going to hit your heartstrings every time,” Jones said. “You get to know them [the victims] and you feel the pain they go through.”

The mother who made the powerful plea said that she strongly believes that there are other victims of Smith who are too afraid to come forward.

“I don’t want them to be afraid anymore,” she said. “I want them to know he’s in jail and can’t ever hurt them or anyone else.”