Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has voiced his disapproval of the ruling made by Magistrate Mikhail Kadiri, the coroner who presided over the investigation into the death of 12-year-old student Sylvester Oromoni, of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos State.
News About Nigeria reports that in a ruling delivered on Monday, the Coroner Lagos cleared Dowen College of any responsibility for the student’s death and instead placed blame on the family doctor for negligence.
Falana, in a statement issued on Monday, expressed concern over the coroner’s decision, particularly pointing out the omission of key evidence.
He pointed out the coroner’s disregard for toxicological examination of the “black substance” found in the deceased’s stomach, despite suggestions that he may have been forced to ingest a poisonous substance.
The human rights lawyer also criticised the apparent inconsistency in the Acting Director of Public Prosecution of Lagos State’s recommendations, initially suggesting prosecution for criminal negligence but later withdrawing without new evidence.
Furthermore, Falana questioned the coroner’s acceptance of the cause of death as sepsis, allegedly caused by excessive massaging of the deceased’s leg.
He pointed out that the school’s medical team had reportedly engaged in such massaging for two days before involving the parents.
“The doctors who testified stated that the deceased died of sepsis and that the sepsis could have been caused by excessive massaging of the leg of the deceased.
“The coroner conveniently overlooked the fact that the school doctor and the nurses massaged the leg of the deceased for two days before inviting his parents to take him home.
“In an attempt to exonerate Dowen College, the coroner was silent on the overwhelming evidence of the bullying of the deceased, his sister, and other students by the same set of students,” the statement read.
Despite evidence of bullying and torture presented by witnesses, including a student who testified to witnessing the deceased being subjected to violence, the coroner concluded that the death was due to natural causes.
In a marathon judgement spanning over six hours, Magistrate Kadiri determined that while the deceased’s death was natural, it could have been avoided with better intervention from parents and the medical team.
He also cleared some Dowen College students implicated in the incident of any wrongdoing.
