A prosecution witness in the trial of Chrisland School on the death of Whitney Adeniran, a 12-year-old student, has said that investigations did not reveal that the school was responsible for electricity at the stadium.
The witness, Wahab Ariyo, an officer with the Lagos State Safety Commission, said this during the ongoing trial on Wednesday.
Ariyo said this when he was cross-examined by the third defendant’s counsel, Olukayode Enitan (SAN).
The school and its staff members are facing a two-count charge of involuntary manslaughter and negligent acts before an Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos State.
At the resumed hearing, the witness told the court that nobody told him that Adeniran died from electrocution.
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Ariyo said: “I made the discovery during the investigation.”
He told the court that his report on the cause of Adeniran’s death was based on interrogation and pictures taken after her demise at Agege Stadium, Lagos.
He further confirmed that the school was not present at the stadium the day he did the inspection.
Ariyo, however, insisted that the inspection of the premises revealed infractions.
He said: “The report is a reflection of what we observed on the day of the inspection.
“In our report, a reassessment was said to have been conducted, but we were not there because we were not called.
“I am not aware that reassessments were conducted on two occasions, specifically on January 13 and February 8, 2023.
“I do not know the role the third defendant (the school) played because I was not at the stadium on the day of the inter-house sports.
“The accident report was not presented to the safety commission before the final report was sent to the Ministry of Education.”
Ariyo admitted that he did not request the medical report of the deceased and did not visit her parents to obtain her medical history.
He said: “I did not, before now, see the medical report issued by Inland Specialist Hospital on the late Whitney.
“Our investigation did not indicate that the third defendant was responsible for electricity at the stadium and none of the defendants were found to be in charge of the electricity.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Lagos State Government on March 31, 2023 charged Chrisland School Limited, Opebi, its principal, vice principal and two others with the killing Adeniran.
Those charged alongside the school are Ademoye Adewale (a cotton candy vendor), Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao (Principal) and Victoria Nwatu.
The defendants are standing trial for negligently causing the death of the 12-year-old, who allegedly died during the school inter house sport.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences violate Sections 224 and 251 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
Justice Oyindamola Ogala adjourned the case until December 11 for continuation of trial.
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