February 13, (THEWILL) – The Lagos State Government has ordered a coroner’s inquest into the cause of death of Whitney Omodesola Adeniran, a 12-year-old pupil of Chrisland School.
Whitney reportedly died during the School’s inter-house sports activities at Agege Stadium on Thursday.
While her family had accused the school of negligence, demanding a probe into the circumstances surrounding Whitney’s death, the school management said she had reported “not-too-buoyant” health on January 20.
Chrisland dismissed insinuations that there was foul play in her death adding that she slumped in public.
However, a statement issued Monday by the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) said a thorough investigation will be carried out to ascertain the cause of death.
“A Coroner’s Inquest has immediately been requested, in line with sections 14 and 15 of the Coroners’ Systems Law, Laws of Lagos State 2015, to determine the cause and circumstances of death.
“By Section 14(1)(d) of the Coroners’ System Law of the State: “A report of death shall be made to any of the agencies for the report of death or the office of the Coroner and be subject to post-mortem examination where there is reasonable cause to believe that the cause of death was: violent, unnatural or suspicious.”
“Section 15(1) and (9) further enjoins the Coroner to hold an inquest whenever he or she is informed that the death of the deceased person was in a violent, unnatural, or suspicious situation or believes an inquest is desirable following the report of a reportable death”, Onigbanjo said.
While assuring the public that everything will be done to ensure that the cause of death is known, Onigbanjo said “The findings of this investigation will be made public in due course and appropriate sanctions meted out to anyone found culpable.”
