Admin l Tuesday, March 01, 2022
IKEJA, Lagos – Proceedings were stalled for about 10 minutes when Principal of Dowen College, Mrs. Adebisi Layiwola wept emotionally during the inquest into circumstances surrounding the death of 12 year old JSS2 student of the school.
The principal wept, while being led in evidence by Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, who informed the court that pathological inquiry on the deceased led to discovery of a black substance in the body and inquired from the principal if she asked students mentioned in the alleged bully incident if they were aware that a concoction was forcibly administered to the deceased to drink during the alleged bully incident.
Prior to this, Dr. Sunday Shokunle Soyemi, a pathologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital(LASUTH) had told the court during cross examination that he could not conduct a toxicology test on the black substance since LASUTH lacked a toxicology laboratory.
Ten minutes after resumption, Mrs. Layiwola told the court that she never asked the students if they were aware of cultism in Dowen College, neither did she inquire from them if the alleged concoction was forcibly given to the deceased to drink but that she only inquired from the students about the alleged bully incident.
The principal who said she never denied the existence of bully in the school said what she said in her statement at the Maroko Police Station was that Dowen College has zero tolerance for bullying and that several students have been suspended and even expelled for bullying.
Falana also asked the principal if she is aware that Dr. Moji Bisiriyu, whom she said works at Dowen College from Monday to Friday also works at American Hospital in Lekki on Saturday and Sunday. She answered in the negative.
The learned SAN went further to ask if she will be surprised to learn that the board of Dowen College has been dissolved after the Sylvester Oromoni incident.
She said she will not be surprised after which Femi Falana SAN, tendered two documents, one printed from the website of the American Hospital indicating that Dr. Bisiriyu works with them and a newspaper printout indicating that the board of Dowen College has been dissolved.
Counsel to the defendants did not object to the newspaper printout, reporting dissolution of the board, they however objected to the printout from the website of American Hospital, stressing that the printout does not in anyway confirm her status of employment.
Quoting relevant cases, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria told the court that the weight of the documents even if it is stolen determines admissibility.
Ruling on the matter, Coroner, Magistrate Mikhail Kadiri admitted the two documents based on their weight and relevance to the inquest.
He adjourned further inquiry on the matter to Monday, March 7, 2022.
The Principal also said the school sent condolence messages through email and WhatsApp message to Oromoni’s parents and also followed up with a call to the parents.
