….. Granted N20milliion,N10 million Bail Relief.
By Ken Chiwendu
The Lagos State government has sued Chrisland School Limited, and some of its staff members over the death of a 12-year-old student, Whitney Omodesola Adeniran, during the school’s inter-house sports meet on the 9th of February, 2023.
The suspects were arraigned on Thursday before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja on a two-count charge of involuntary manslaughter, and acting in a reckless and negligent manner that endangered her life.
Those charged are , Mrs Belinda Amao, Principal,, Nwatu Victoria,Vice Principal, and Kuku Fatai, a teacher in the school.. Also arraigned was Ademoye Adewale a vendor at the Agege Stadium.
The prosecution counsel led by Attorney General & Commissioner of Justice, Lagos, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN on behalf of the State Government told the court that the state had filed two -count charge against the defendants.
However, the defendants, pleaded not guilty.
Onigbanjo also informed the court that the state had lined up seventeen witnesses to testify against the defendant
In furtherance of this,he requested for a date to enable the prosecution open trial.
The defence lawyers submitted that they had pending applications seeking the bail of all the defendants.
This, the prosecution agreed given that it is granted on self recognizance and bail conditions guarantee physical appearance of the defendants for trial.
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In her ruling, Justice Ogala granted the principal and vice principal of Chrisland School, Mrs Amao, and Ugochi Victoria, bail in the sum of N20m each with two sureties in the sum of N10m each.
The other two defendants were granted bail in the sum of 10m each with two sureties in like sum pending the hearing and determination of the charge against them.
The sureties must be residents within the jurisdiction of the court and their financial status and address must be credible and verifiable.
All defendants must also provide evidence of payment of tax for the last three years as well as deposit their international passport with the registrar of the court.
Parties in the matter have also agreed that the trial will continue after the Easter holidays. The court adjourned till May 25, June 1, 8, and 15 for the commencement of trial.
Whitney was electrocuted at the Agege Stadium on the 9th of February, 2023 during an Inter – House Sports meet organised by her school, Chrisland School, Ikeja for students.
At first, the school gave misleading reports of the true cause of death to her parents but a nine-paged autopsy report conducted at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja put the cause of death asphyxia and electrocution.
When she slumped at the event, she was given first aid by the nurse on standby and was subsequently rushed to Agege Central Hospital, Agege, Lagos where she was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.
The two-count charge which was filed on behalf of the state government by the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Dr. Jide Martins disclosed that
the defendants all negligently killed Whitney by not ensuring her safety.
The charge also disclosed that they all acted in a reckless and negligent manner that endangered human life.
The offences are contrary to Sections 224 & 251 of the Criminal Law, C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015
The offence carry a penalty of life imprisonment and two-year jail terms respectively,if found guilty.
