Mr. Michael Adeniran, father of a late student of Chrisland Schools, Ikeja, on Monday told an Ikeja High Court that his daughter died in a stadium during the school’s inter-house sports.
Adeniran told the court that he was informed by the school’s nurse that his daughter, aged 12, was already dead in the stadium before she was taken to a hospital.
He said that the nurse told him that the daughter’s eyes were already dilated but she could not pronounce her dead because she was not a doctor.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lagos State Government had on March 31, 2023, charged Chrisland School Ltd., Opebi, and its principal, vice principal and two others for the death of Adeniran’s daughter.
The 12-year-old student was allegedly electrocuted on Feb. 9, 2023, during the school’s inter-house sports at the Agege Stadium, Lagos State.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice Oyindamola Ogala.
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 involuntary manslaughter and reckless and negligent acts.
While being cross-examined on Monday, Adeniran who is the first prosecution witness, said that he could not remember anybody informing him that oxygen was administered on his daughter at the hospital she was taken to.
He was led in evidence by counsel to Chrisland Schools, Mr. Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN).
When asked if the student was absent from school on Feb. 2, 2023, due to illness, Adeniran replied, “She was absent from school, but she was not ill.”
The witness said that, on Jan. 20, 2023, the school called his wife (the deceased’s mother) and informed her that Whitney was ill.
He said that his daughter was then taken to Inland Specialist Hospital where a doctor prescribed drugs for her.
He testified that he got to know the name of the drugs from the doctor’s report obtained from the hospital and dated Feb. 16, 2023.
Adeniran listed the drugs as Nitrazepam and Amitriptyline.
When asked if he was informed by the Agege Central Hospital and Diagnostic Ltd. that his daughter died of cardiac arrest, the witness said that he was informed that she died of cardiac arrest.
The witness, however, told the court that he could not remember if the school’s nurse mentioned anything about administering oxygen or cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the deceased.
“The nurse said she tried all she could but my daughter had already died before being taken out of the stadium.
“She said her eyes had already dilated, but she could not pronounce her dead because she was not a doctor,” he said.
NAN reports that Adeniran had testified before the court on May 25, 2023.
Justice Oyindamola Ogala adjourned the case until Jan. 24 for continuation of cross-examination of Adeniran. (NAN)
