Chrisland: Lagos Arraigns Staff, Vendor Today Over Student’s Death

The Lagos state government will today Arraign three employees of Chrisland International School and a vendor contracted by the school over the death of a 12-year-old student of the school, Whitney Adeniran.

The state has filed a two-count charge of involuntary manslaughter and reckless and negligent acts contrary to Sections 224 & 251 of the Criminal Law, C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015 against the suspects.

Those to be arraigned before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja are Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai, Mrs Belinda Amao, Nwatu Ugochi Victoria, and Chrisland School Limited.

Already a Lagos coroner, Magistrate Olabisi Fajana, has fixed April 4 for the commencement of an inquest into the tragic incident.

Whitney Adeniran was said to have slumped on February 9 during the Inter-house Sports organised by the School, held at the Agege Sports Stadium.

She was rushed to Agege Central Hospital, Agege, Lagos, where she was confirmed as “brought in dead” (BID) by the doctor on duty.

The case was then referred to the Nigerian Police Force, which conducted a thorough investigation with the help of other agencies.

The file was subsequently forwarded to the DPP’s Office on Monday, March 20, 2023, for review of the duplicate case file.

On March 23, 2023, the DPP issued his Legal Advice, having established a prima facie case of involuntary manslaughter and reckless and negligent acts against the school, some members of staff and one of the vendors.

The Director of the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr Babajide Martins, leading other lawyers, will prosecute the case on behalf of the state.

The autopsy, conducted at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, stated that Whitney Adeniran died of asphyxia and electrocution.