Lagos govt files manslaughter charge against Chrisland School over death of 12-year-old pupil
The Lagos state government has filed two counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless and negligent acts against Chrisland School and four employees of the school over the death of a 12-year-old student, Whitney Adeniran.
They are all to be arraigned on Thursday, March 30, before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos high court, Ikeja.
The four employees include Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao and Nwatu Victoria.
The charges were filed on behalf of the state government by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Babajide Martins.
The DPP disclosed that on the 9th of February, 2023, at about 1 pm at Agege Sports Stadium, they 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
If found guilty, the offences carry a penalty of life imprisonment and two-year jail terms respectively.
Recall that Whitney slumped and died on February 9 during the Inter-house Sports organised by the school at the Agege Sports Stadium.
She was given first aid by the nurse on standby and was subsequently rushed to Agege Central Hospital, Agege, where she was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.
A 9-paged autopsy report conducted at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, stated that Whitney died as a result of asphyxia and electrocution.
Meanwhile, preliminary reports from the Lagos state domestic and sexual violence agency and statements obtained by the police from top officials of the school reveal that whilst the population of students in the school is 556 and the school expected about 1,000 people to be in attendance for the inter-house sports, only 12 educators were assigned to about ninety 90 students in each house to monitor them.
The police also noted that the school management did not do its due diligence in securing a permit from the Lagos state safety commission to use the space secured at the stadium with that number of persons.
The DPP noted that this shows categorically that the suspects owed the deceased a duty of care, adding that the duty was breached, and that breach led to the death of the deceased.
While the legal team of the state government will be led by the DPP, Babajide Martins, the defence team has four senior advocates of Nigeria including Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), Yele Delano (SAN), Chief Richard Ahonaruogho (SAN) and Olukayode Enitan (SAN), leading other counsel.
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