Involuntary Manslaughter: Court Grants 4 Chrisland School Staff Bail

Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State Special Offences Court on Thursday granted bail to four employees of Chrisland School Limited, accused of complicity in the sudden death of one of the students of the school, Whitney Adeniran.

The Lagos State government had dragged Chrisland School Limited and its principal, vice principal and two employees before the court on 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

Those docked before the court for the alleged offence are: Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai, Mrs Belinda Amao, Nwatu Ugochi Victoria, and Chrisland School Limited.

The state claimed that the defendants, on February 9, 2023, at about 1 pm, at the Agege Sports Stadium, Agege, Lagos, in the Ikeja Judicial Division, killed one Adeniran Omodesola Whitney by acting recklessly and negligently that endangered her life.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges when it was read to them by the court’s registrar.

The state’s attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), informed the court that the prosecution has 17 witnesses; he also urged Justice Ogala to fix a trial date.

All the defence counsel, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), Yele Delano (SAN), Chief Richard Ahonaruogho (SAN), and Kayode Enitan (SAN), did not oppose the oral application. Still, they informed the court that they had filed bail applications on behalf of their clients.

They after that took turns to move their bail applications, urging the court to admit the defendants to bail on liberal terms.

Onigbanjo did not object to the applications; he, however, urged the court not to grant bail on self-recognisance and to ensure to grant conditions that would guarantee that the defendants show up for their trial.

In her ruling, Justice Ogala granted the principal and vice principal of Chrisland School, Mrs Belinda Amao and Nwatu Ugochi Victoria, bail of N20 million each with two sureties in the sum of N10 million each.

The judge also admitted the other two defendants were granted bail in the sum of N10 million each, with two sureties in like sum, pending the hearing and determination of the charge against them.

Justice Ogala then adjourned the matter to May 25 for the commencement of the trial.