Lagos didn’t mention electrocution in report on Whitney Adeniran’s death, witness tells court

A witness in the judicial inquiry into the death of Whitney Adeniran has told the court that there was no mention of electrocution in the fact-finding report by the Lagos state government conducted on February 14, 2023.

Whitney, a student of Chrisland School in Opebi Ikeja, died on February 9, 2023, during a sports event at Agege Stadium.

An autopsy conducted by the state government had established that she died of electrocution and asphyxia.

Before this, the Lagos state ministry of youth and social development conducted a fact-finding probe on February 14.

The state later proceeded to charge Chrisland School, its principal, vice principal, and two others with the killing of the 12-year-old.

But an Ikeja High Court, on Wednesday, learned that there was no mention of “electrocution” in the ministry’s report from the meeting.

Bimpe Ajegbomogun, the counsel to Ademoye Adewale, a cotton candy vendor at Chrisland who is the first defendant in the matter, cross-examined Yakubu Abisogun, the deputy director at the ministry for youth and social development, the prosecution’s third witness.

During his cross-examination, Abisogun admitted that there was no mention of electrocution in the report this ministry initiated.

Ajegbomogun told the witness that Michael Adeniran, the father of the deceased, was the first person who stated that his daughter Whitney died from electrocution at the Age Stadium.

The lawyer probed the witness, a social welfare officer, on why an investigation into the death of Whitney by the Safeguarding and Child Protection Alliance Group (SCPAG) indicting the school would not mention Michael’s allegation that an electrocution killed Whitney.

The SCPAG, according to the witness, is a committee that comprises officers from several state ministries, including the ministries for youth & social development, education, and justice.

The counsel to the first defendant also probed the witness on the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy of Lagos State document which the prosecution tendered to be admitted in evidence on the last adjourned date.

She asked Yakubu: “Who is responsible for monitoring the adherence of schools to the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy of Lagos State?”

Yakubu, who served on the SCPAG, replied: “The Ministry of Youth and Social Development is responsible for monitoring it.”

Ajegbomogun told the witness that, based on his answer, the SCPAG which formed the fact-finding mission and the Ministry of Youth and Social Development failed to carry out their duties.

She asked the witness, “Would you agree that your committee and the Ministry of Youth and Social Development failed woefully in their duty?”

Yakubu replied in the negative.

Bimpe Ajegbomogun also asked the witness why there was no representation from Agege Stadium in the fact-finding mission.

Abisogun responded that the fact-finding mission was held for only the management and staff of Chrisland School.

Richard Ahonaruogho, the counsel to Belinda Amao, the principal who is the second defendant in the case, followed up on the cross-examination of Abisogun.

The SAN pointed out to the witness that the fact-finding mission report did not mention anything about Agege Stadium and the committee did not invite the stadium officials.

Ahonaruogho also told the witness that the report did not state that there was an absence of a designated child protection officer which, according to him, was meant to be provided by Chrisland School.

The counsel to the second defendant told the witness that Chrisland School’s consultant child psychologist, who was also in charge of safety, was exempted from the fact-finding meeting because she was not a member of the school’s management and staff.

He queried Abisogun on the fact that the first defendant, a cotton candy vendor at the Agege Stadium, was also exempted from the fact-finding meeting as well as the parents of the deceased.

Ahonaruogho told the court that the witness did not present any document or evidence to show that the Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy has been disseminated to the over 1,722 public and private secondary schools in the state.

He told the court that Abisogun’s report on the last adjourned date where he stated that Chrisland School was insensitive to the situation of the deceased was false.

Ahonaruogho brought out the medical report showing how the school’s nurse attended to the late Whitney at the Agege Stadium to buttress his claim.

Oyindamola Ogala, the presiding judge, adjourned the matter to March 21 for continuation of trial.

Among the defendants are the school, the candy vendor Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai, the principal Belinda Amao, and the school nurse Victoria Nwatu.