An investigating firm, Pechilly Investigative Channel, has faulted the closure of a nursery and primary school in Onitsha, Blessed Wisdom Model School, over the case of a two year old pupil, who was allegedly beaten.
The group also described as wicked, false narratives by the Anambra State government to cover up their lack of investigation, before sealing up the school.
Pechilly Investigative Channel, in a statement addressed to the Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, which was sent to THE RAZOR said: “We are writing in response to your recent communication questioning the professionalism and integrity of our organization and our staff, particularly Karen James.
“As a representative of Pechilly Investigative Channel, I must set the record straight with regards to the allegations made in your letter. Karen James has been a professional journalist for over 12 years, and her work has been published in reputable media outlets both locally and internationally. As an organization, our standards for reporting are high, and we make every effort to ensure our work is factual, balanced, and responsible.
“Our investigation into the case of EGBUNIWE DAVIDA IFECHUKWU, a two-year-old pupil of Blessed Wisdom Model School Housing Estate GRA Onitsha, was conducted with the utmost professionalism and integrity. We undertook the investigation based on the information that was presented to us, and we reported on our findings objectively and accurately.
“Contrary to your claims, we did not seek to distort the facts or intentionally misrepresent the case. Our investigation revealed that the child sustained dislocated elbow injury due to a playground accident and not due to flogging or any other form of physical abuse as was presented though the parents at the Anambra state ministry of education panel changed the story to a bookshelf accidentally falling on the child. We stand by our findings, which were based on thorough investigation and the available evidences.
“We take our role as investigative journalists seriously and will always seek to report on the truth, regardless of whom it might offend. We believe that the truth should always come first, and we will not shy away from our responsibility to the public to report on issues that are of public interest.
“We urge you to conduct yourself in a professional and ethical manner and refrain from making baseless allegations against our organization and our staff.
However, it might interest you that, the first story in the news was the flogging of 2 year old child and subsequent closure of the school by Anambra State Government as was reported in various media outlets including state owned radio stations on the 14th of July 2023 . At the panel at Awka which our staff attended in person, the story was changed to bookshelf falling on the child, now it is negligence on the part of school management for not visiting the child parents. What a fat and disappointed approach to governance.
“Moreover, we ask Ndi Anambra and Nigerians these questions, where in the world will they shut down a public institution be it school , market or church first over an incident, probably over an unethical behaviour before setting up a kangaroo probe panel to dole out more sanctions against the defendants and to ascertain if actually what they heard or ordered to do really happened. This action only showed that some interested parties be it fellow competitors in the same industry needs to be pleased to the detriment of the accused, and it can only be described as abuse of power by people in the helms of affairs in Anambra State education system .
“This investigation was done as part of our obligations to the journalism profession and especially for the fundamental human rights of people in the society, the women and Children in particular and definitely not about Blessed wisdom school or the child parents or the state education board. We only investigate to unravel truths in crime scenes, make it public and possibly alert the security agents and civil liberty organizations to take actions , that is Pechilly investigative Channel and nothing else.
“It is pertinent to note that little Miss Ifechkwu Egbuniwe’s incident happened on the 28th of April 2023, at the school premises whereas it was reported in the media on the 14th day of July 2023 due to the closure of the school by Anambra state Ministry of Education, so what took the authorities so long to organize an investigation over the incident ,rather they shut down the school on the 14th day of July through a press release and then ordered a probe panel to investigate an incident they had already melted out punishment on. Their action do not follow due process in addressing issues.
“Our staff, Karen James was at the panel sitting held at Anambra state ministry of education secretariat Awka as an undercover reporter for detail reportage of facts hence cannot disclose her identity to anyone for parties to speak freely and not to be concerned about press presence within their midst.
“Pechilly investigative Channel is with detailed evidences to support its investigative works which will be made public. We do have a reputation to protect .
“As for fourth Estate reporter with no identity, quacks do not go with verifiable names like Karen James nor with a reputable media outlets like Pechilly investigative Channel, they are only paid propaganda strategist bearing non verifiable and frivolous names like fourth Estate, fifth estate etc, which are housing authority estate names usually found in ministry of devils works and not in the main stream journalism profession.
“Fourth Estate reporter, is not known as a practicing journalist in the state or elsewhere, do sign up for registration with NUJ in the state if you are interested in becoming a journalist,” the group said.
