Chrisland, staff, vendor to be charged for manslaughter, others

The Lagos State Government has disclosed that Chrisland School, some members of staff and one of its vendors during its inter-house sports, would be charged with the offences of involuntary manslaughter, reckless and negligent acts for the death of a 12-year-old Whitney Omodesola Adeniran.

The State Ministry of Justice, which noted that the offences were contrary to sections 224 and 251 of the Criminal Law, Ch C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015, recalled that Adeniran, a student of Chrisland High School, Ikeja, slumped on February 9 during the inter-house sports organised by the school at the Agege Sports Stadium and was subsequently rushed to Agege Central Hospital, Lagos, where she was confirmed “brought in dead” by the doctor on duty.

“The case was referred to the Nigerian Police Force, which carried out a thorough investigation with the help of other agencies.

“The file was subsequently forwarded to the DPP’s Office on March 20, 2023, for review of the duplicate case file.

“On March 23, 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. They will, therefore, be charged with the offences of involuntary manslaughter and reckless and negligent acts, contrary to sections 224 and 251 of the Criminal Law, Ch C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015,” a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs in the ministry, Mrs Grace Alo noted.

Mrs Alo added that certified true copies of the legal advice were available on the Ministry of Justice website.

It would be recalled that the cause of Whitney Adeniran’s death generated controversies as the school had said the 12-yearold slumped and passed away during the school’s inter-house sports competition at Agege stadium., a claim punctured by her parents, who maintained that their daughter was in a good health condition when the school bus picked her on that fateful morning.