A Lagos-based Chinese woman identified as Mrs. Sizhen Chen, has accused Elite British Co educational school, Charterhouse Lagos in the Lekki area of the state of failing to protect her eight-year-old daughter (name withheld) from repeated racist bullying barely 48 hours after she resumed Year 4 at the elite private school.
Charterhouse Lagos is one of Nigeria’s most expensive and high-profile private schools.
The school has refuted the charges, which have now turned into a contentious battle involving accusations of racism, institutional negligence, and cover-up, as well as counter-accusations of defamation and reputational harm.
Chen, through her lawyer, Festus Ogun, Managing Partner at FOLEGAL, detailed a series of alleged incidents that occurred on September 18 and 19, 2025, claiming that her daughter was “harassed, bullied, intimidated” and subjected to racial slurs, including “loser,” “Chinko,” “stupid,” and “everyone hates you,” by groups of pupils from Years 4 to 6.
Chen claims that the first incidence occurred at precisely 8:30 a.m., five hours after her daughter came for her first day.
She said that her daughter was verbally assaulted “in a very spiteful and malicious manner” by ten or so students who encircled her on the playground, forcing her to close her eyes and wave her hands in impotent defence.
Chen’s daughter, a Nigerian-Chinese born in Nigeria, was reportedly forced by a teacher to apologise, while the bullies faced no disciplinary action.
Chen claimed that her daughter was confronted by a second group of eight students at the indoor playground the next day.
During the confrontation, one child allegedly told Chen’s daugter, “remove your stinky hand from my water bottle,” a comment Chen described as racist.
Despite the severity of the incidents, Chen accused the school of failing to intervene, stating that the teachers on duty “stood by onlooking” and did not protect the child.
She further alleged that the Primary School Headteacher attempted to “shift blame” onto her daughter, mischaracterised the bullies’ racist remarks as though they were her daughter’s, and focused instead on “attitude issues” later proven untrue by the class teacher.
According to Chen, Charterhouse denied her request for CCTV evidence, claiming that employees “did not know who the bullies were.”
Her child now feels frightened and emotionally distraught, she said, characterising the school environment as “extremely hostile and toxic.”
Her attorney claimed that by neglecting to safeguard the child, conduct an open investigation, or punish the offenders, Charterhouse violated its legal duties under the Child Rights Act 2003, the Nigerian Constitution, and the 2025 National Policy on Anti-Bullying.
However, in an official response signed by its Government Liaison and Legal Manager, Adetayo Adeyemo, Charterhouse Lagos “categorically” denied that any bullying took place.
The school claimed that its investigations showed that Chen’s daughter “made racially insensitive remarks on two separate occasions” toward Nigerian students, triggering “verbal exchanges” that it described as mutual provocation rather than targeted bullying.
The school rejected all claims of discriminatory conduct, insisting that it hosts a diverse student population, including “several of Chinese origin, who coexist harmoniously.”
The school said it had taken disciplinary action against students who used inappropriate language but could not release CCTV footage because it contained images of other minors, citing data protection laws.
The school further claimed that Chen had harmed its reputation by disseminating an audio recording and specific charges to bloggers and social media sites, adding that it had first decided not to take legal action “in the spirit of goodwill.”
Additionally, it stated that if the family wanted to remove the child, it provided a complete reimbursement of all costs.
Charterhouse claimed that Chen’s social media posts in China and Nigeria were “false, unfounded, malicious” and had caused “irreparable reputational damage” in a later court letter submitted by the school’s attorneys.
Chen was required by the school to repudiate her remarks, obtain the removal of her online posts, apologise in public, and pay N200 million in damages.
The school warned that noncompliance will result in a complete lawsuit demanding N1 billion in general damages, a permanent injunction prohibiting future publications, N50 million in legal fees, and court orders requiring retractions and public apologies.
The school said it is still open to “amicable settlement” provided Chen complies with its conditions, despite the combative tone.
But Chen maintains that her daughter remains traumatised and refuses to return to Charterhouse due to “continuous harassment, intimidation, and racial abuse,” alleging institutional complicity and a cover-up.
She called on the Lagos State Ministry of Education to conduct an independent investigation on the matter, compel Charterhouse to apologise, and ensure disciplinary action against the pupils and staff involved.
