The Lagos State Government said it would sue Chrisland High School, Ikeja, some members of staff, and one of the vendors for Involuntary Manslaughter, as well as Reckless and Negligent Acts, following the death of a 12-year-old student, Whitney Adeniran.
This was made known in a statement by the Office of the Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Justice on Friday, OYO NEWS reports.
It was however said that the suspects would be charged with the offences contrary to Sections 224 and 251 of the Criminal Law, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
“On the 9th of February 2023, Whitney Omodesola Adeniran, a student of Chrisland High School, Ikeja, aged 12 years, slumped during the Inter-house Sports organised by the school at the Agege Sports Stadium and was subsequently rushed to the Agege Central Hospital, Agege, Lagos, where she was confirmed ‘brought in dead’ (BID) by the doctor on duty,” the statement partly read.
According to the statement, the case was referred to the police “which carried out a thorough investigation with the help of other agencies”.
The file was subsequently forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP)’s Office on Monday 20th March, 2023, for review of the duplicate case file.
On the 23rd of March, 2023, the DPP issued his Legal Advice and came to the conclusion that a prima facie case of Involuntary Manslaughter and Reckless and Negligent Acts had been established against the school.
“Some members of staff and one of the vendors will therefore be charged with the offences contrary to sections 224 and 251of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015”, the statement noted.
It added that information would be filed in accordance with the legal advice issued by the DPP and certified true copies of the legal advice is available on the ministry of justice website (www.lagosstatemoj.org.)