THE Lagos State Government has accused Chrisland School Limited and four other individuals on two counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless conduct, and negligent acts in connection with the passing of Whitney Adeniran, a 12-year-old student.
They will all be formally charged tomorrow before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Ikeja branch of the Lagos High Court. The four additional individuals are Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao, and Nwatu Victoria, all of whom are employed by the school.
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Babajide Martins, who brought the charges on behalf of the state government stated that the DPP, by failing to ensure Whitney Adeniran’s safety on February 9 at around 1 p.m. at Agege Sports Stadium, they all killed her carelessly.
They were all charged with reckless and careless behavior that put human life at risk.
The offences are contrary to Sections 224 & 251 of the Criminal Law, C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
If found guilty, the offenses carry a sentence of either life in prison or two years in jail.
The charge sheet and the DPP’s Legal Advice were obtained by Channels TV.
According to a legal opinion dated March 22, the duplicate case file shows that on February 9, 2023, Chrisland High School in Ikeja hosted an inter-house sport event for its students at the Agege Sports Stadium. Whitney Adeniran, a 12-year-old student, was electrocuted during the event.
A 9-paged autopsy report conducted at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja revealed that the cause of death was asphyxia and electrocution.
Adeniran was said to have slumped on February 9 during the Inter-house Sports organised by the school which was held at the Agege Sports Stadium.
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.
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, 12 educators were assigned to about ninety 90 students in each house to monitor them.
Additionally, it was discovered that the school administration had not exercised due diligence in obtaining a license from the Lagos State Safety Commission to use the stadium space reserved for that number of people.
According to the DPP, this unequivocally demonstrates that the suspects owed the deceased a duty of care, that duty was broken, and that breach caused the deceased’s death.
While the DPP, Dr. Babajide Martins, will lead the legal team for the Lagos State Government, the defense team is led by four senior Nigerian advocates: Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), Yele Delano (SAN), Chief Richard Ahonaruogho (SAN), and Olukayode Enitan (SAN), who is also leading other counsel.
The case has raised concerns about issues of the safety of children in the public and in public places.
