More revelations are continuing to trail the prosecution of staff and management of Chrisland School, Opebi, over the death of a 12-year-old pupil of the school who died at the school’s inter-house sport at Agege Stadium.
Mr. Yakubu Jubril, a social worker, has informed that there is no need for a stadium to have emergency facility.
The third prosecution witness made this revelation at the cross-examination by the third Defence Counsel, Olukayode Enitan on his evidence-in-chief at the ongoing trial before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.
The defendants are; Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao, Victoria Nwatu and Chrisland School.
Lagos State Government had dragged the defendants to court over late Whitney Adeniran, a 12-year-old pupil of the school who died of an alleged Asphyxia and electrocution during the school’s inter-house sports competition held at Agege Stadium on February 9, 2023.
At the cross-examination on Thursday, Mr. Jubril stated that though the sports facility in the state is owned by the state government, there is no need for a stadium to have an emergency facility.
While being asked if it was part of the work of Lagos State Sport Commission to establish and make sure that there are proper medical facilities to treat emergency, the prosecution witness stated, ‘no’.
He was asked to read the Lagos State of Nigeria Official Gazette of Lagos State No. 9 Volume 50,which was thereafter admitted as exhibit.
The witness also said the Commission was created by the Law of Lagos State, adding that Order No. 4 of the Executive Order states the function of the Commission, that it shall establish and maintain playing field and premises for holding practices or sport competition, marches, among others, for which school social work service officer is in charge.
He said,”District VI covers: Oshodi, Ikeja, Opebi, Allen, Agege, Mushin, Isolo, Abule-Egba and to the boundary of Ogun State. I don’t know all the social workers in District VI.”
He also told the court that he does not know if it is normal for people to pay for use of sport facility, the witness admitted knowing Agege Stadium as part of recreational centre.
He was therefore asked to read the Order 4 of the Executive Order 2016, which he admitted that it applies to Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Development and not every other officers in Lagos State public sector.
Jubril had in his testimony told the court that he had official meeting held in February 14, 2023 with the staff of Chrisland School, which he claimed there were minutes of the fact-finding meeting and video recording of what happened in the meeting.
When asked if he refreshed his memory with the minutes of the meeting before coming for evidence, he said he did that through the report of the ministry’s report and does not have the minute of the meeting, he stated, “I am not the admin secretary.”
CaseFile reports that the state government on March 30, 2023, arraigned the Cotton Candy Vendor Ademoye Adewale, the school’s instructor Kuku Fatai, the principal of the school Belinda Amao, the school Nurse Victoria Nwatu and Chrisland School Limited, over the death of Whitney.
They were arraigned on two counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless and negligent acts preferred against them by the state.
The state stated that the incident took place at about 1;00 pm, in Agege Sports Stadium, adding that the defendants killed Whitney by acting in a reckless and negligent manner that endangered her life.
According to the charge, the offence committed contravened Sections 224 & 251 of the Criminal Law, Lagos State 2015.
The defendants however pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
The case has been adjourned to April 18 for further hearing.
