The Lagos State Coroner sitting in Ogba concluded that Sylvester Oromoni, a student of Dowen College, who was reported to have been bullied to death by some students of Dowen College in Lagos died of natural causes.
Coroner cites parental, medical negligence for death of Sylvester Oromoni
Magistrate Mikhail Kadiri while delivering the over 6 hours long verdict on Monday also blamed parental and medical negligence, for the avoidable death of the late 12 year-old JSS 1 student.
Sylvester Oromoni Jnr., died in November 2021 under controversial circumstances for which he suffered “avoidable excruciating pain” due to parental and medical negligence, which led to his “needless” death.
According to the Coroner, the family doctor of the deceased, Dr. Henry Aghogho abandoned the late Sylvester who was already in excruciating pain for 32 hours.
Sylvester Oromoni sustained injuries while playing football
After examining all the evidence before the court, the court ruled, “I hereby summarise that the deceased Sylvester Oromoni Jnr., played football where he sustained an injury.
He stated that the deceased was in pain and was not taken to any hospital in Lagos.
The coroner also relied on the findings of two autopsies conducted on the deceased at the Central Hospital, Warri, Delta State, with only the family present and at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos where about 10 pathologists representing various parties including the family, Lagos State Government and Dowen College observed the procedures.
They all agreed that the death was caused by Septicemia otherwise known as Sepsis, which is a life-threatening health condition caused by a patient’s body’s response to an infection, following infections of the lungs and kidneys arising from the ankle wound.
“No evidence of blunt force trauma in this body. The findings in the oesophagus and stomach are not compatible with chemical intoxication. Death, in this case, is natural.”
Dr. Sunday Soyemi, who led the Lagos procedure has stated in the autopsy report that sepsis, which led to the death of the boy, could have been treated with “massive doses of intravenous antibiotic, intravenous fluid and blood transfusion”, but which was never done.
From the evidence, Sylvester was said to have sustained an injury on his ankle between November 20 and 21, following first aid treatment, the school contacted his parents to come and pick him up for further treatment. A guardian was sent to the school who took him for an X-ray, but no fracture was detected. But, he wasn’t taken to a hospital for care in Lagos until days later when he was moved to his base in Warri, and treated at home by the family doctor, Henry Aghogho.
Doctor abandoned Sylvester Oromoni for 32 hours unattended
The family doctor, Henry Aghogho was also blamed for not providing the required duty of care for the Sylvester Oromoni whose home care treatment was trivialised despite early diagnosis, the doctor was found to have abandoned the deceased for more than 32 hours and didn’t carry out an X-ray and scan early enough which would have revealed his deteriorating condition.
The coroner fought back tears several times while reading the verdict but eventually broke down while reading his findings and stated that the case was however devoid of sentiments.
He exonerated the Dowen College of negligence and its five senior students accused of bullying the late Sylvester, nor did they administered a poisonous substance on him.
According to him, “The alleged suspects played no part in Sylvester’s death, but were victims of their past misdeeds. They were falsely accused, no staff of Dowen College played any role in the death. The school has improved on their facilities since the incident. The claims of chemical intoxication was never proven, and the faces of those allegedly bullying the deceased weren’t seen. The alleged confession of Sylvester was denied by several witnesses. Even if he was beaten, It didn’t lead to his death.”
The coroner also recommended that parents should not take their children’s health with levity, as well as urged for better synergy between police and medical team in such matters.
He also called for proper psychological evaluation for the five students suspected to have bullied the deceased.
