Police: Some Dowen College parents hindered probe into Oromoni’s death

A policeman identified as Bamidele Olusegun (CSP) says parents of some Dowen College students hindered the investigation into the death of Sylvester Oromoni, the late 12-year-old pupil of the school.

Olusegun, who works at the homicide section of the Lagos criminal investigation and intelligence department, Panti, Yaba appeared before the Ikeja coroner’s court on Tuesday for the continuation of his cross-examination.

He told the court that the parents hindered the investigation by refusing to release their wards for interrogation.

NAN reports that, while responding to a question from Mikhail Kadiri, the coroner, Olusegun said that three roommates of the deceased were not released by their parents due to fear of trauma.

Olusegun, who was the lead investigating officer of the case, also said the investigation into the death was not comprehensive due to the unavailability of the three roommates of the deceased.

“Having not been able to interview the remaining three students, I can say the investigation was not comprehensive,” he said.

“There were four bunks of eight students in the deceased’s room and we (police) were given all the names of the roommates of the deceased.

“We, however, succeeded in interrogating four out of the seven roommates.

“This is because some of the parents said their children were going through trauma.”

Responding to a question by Anthony Kpokpo, counsel to Dowen College, as to how many students confirmed that the deceased was beaten, Olusegun said, “None”.

“All the students at the police station said the alleged beating never happened,” he added.

The witness said the investigation into the death did not reveal anything against house masters at Dowen College.

Oromoni died on November 30, 2021, from injuries alleged to have been sustained in an attack by five senior students of Dowen College who the family had claimed bullied the 12-year-old for refusing to join a cult.

His father had claimed he was attacked and fed a liquid chemical but the school countered the claim and alleged that the boy sustained injuries while playing football.

The Lagos state DPP’s advice released on January 4 also disputed the allegation, stating that an autopsy had revealed the cause of Oromoni’s death as acute bacterial pneumonia due to severe sepsis.

The coroner adjourned proceedings to February 28.