Lagos Arraigns Chrisland School, Four Others For Manslaughter

BoomRadioNG | March 30, 2023

The Lagos State government has today arraigned Chrisland School Limited, and 4 people over the death of a 12-year-old student of the school, Whitney Omodesola Adeniran, who died during the school’s inter-house sport on the 9th of February, 2023.

They were all arraigned before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja on a two-count charge of involuntary manslaughter, and acting in a reckless and negligent manner that endangered the young girl’s life.

The people arraigned are the principal of the school, Mrs Belinda Amao, the Vice Principal, Nwatu Victoria, a teacher in the school, Kuku Fatai and a vendor at the Agege Stadium, Ademoye Adewale.

The Attorney General & Commissioner of Justice, Lagos, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Moyosore Onigbanjo, who led the prosecution on behalf of the State Government informed the court that the state had lined up seventeen witnesses to testify against the defendants. He asked the court for a date to enable the prosecution open trial.

Chrisland Schools
photo credit: Chrisland Schools

The defence team on its part informed the court that they had pending applications seeking the bail of all the defendants. The lawyers subsequently took turns moving their bail applications.

In the court’s ruling, Justice Oyindamola Ogala granted the principal and vice principal of Chrisland School bail in the sum of N20m each with two sureties in the sum of N10m each while the other two defendants were granted bail in the sum of 10m each with two sureties in like sum pending the hearing and determination of the charge against them.

The court also ruled that the sureties must be residents within the jurisdiction of the court and their financial status and address must be credible and verifiable.

All defendants must also provide evidence of payment of tax for the last three years as well as deposit their international passport with the registrar of the court.

Parties in the matter have also agreed that the trial will continue after the Easter holidays. The court adjourned till May 25, June 1, 8, and 15 for the commencement of trial.

Dolupo Balogun