Lagos Govt To Sue Chrisland School, Others For Manslaughter, Negligence

The Lagos State Government led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has vowed to sue Chrisland High School, Ikeja following the death of a 12-year-old student, Whitney Adeniran, during a sporting event organised by the school.

Others to be sued are some members of staff, and one of the vendors for “Involuntary Manslaughter and Reckless and Negligent Acts.”

The Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Justice revealed this in a statement published on the ministry’s website.

The statement partly read, “On the 9th of February 2023, Whitney Omodesola Adeniran, a student of Chrisland High School, Ikeja, aged 12 years, slumped during the Inter-house Sports organised by the school at the Agege Sports Stadium and was subsequently rushed to the Agege Central Hospital, Agege, Lagos, where she was confirmed ‘brought in dead’ (BID) by the doctor on duty.”

The statement added that the case was referred to the police “which carried out a thorough investigation with the help of other agencies,” adding that, “The file (of the case) was subsequently forwarded to the DPP’s Office on Monday 20th March 2023, for review of the duplicate case file.

“On the 23rd of March, 2023, the DPP issued his Legal Advice and came to the conclusion that a prima facie case of Involuntary Manslaughter and Reckless and Negligent Acts had been established against the school, some members of staff and one of the vendors.”

Consequently, the statement noted that they shall “be charged with the offences of Involuntary Manslaughter and Reckless and Negligent Acts contrary to Sections 224 & 251 of the Criminal Law, Ch C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

“Information will be filed in accordance with the legal advice issued by the DPP. Certified True Copies of the Legal advice are available on the Ministry of Justice website (www.lagosstatemoj.org.).”