Court fixes date for parents of late Chrisland student to testify

IKEJA, Lagos, Nigeria – Magistrate Olabisi Fajana  sitting as Coroner has fixed April 17 for parents of the late 12 year old Whitney Adeniran of Chrisland School Ikeja to testify in the trial of their daughter, who was electrocuted during Inter House Sports programme organized by the school at Agege Township Stadium, Lagos.

Olabisi Fajana  fixed the date while ruling on the application of Chrisland International School limited seeking samples and materials to carry out an independent evaluation of the autopsy report conducted by the Lagos state government.

The Magistrate sitting at the Samuel Ilori Court House, Ikeja District Court 13, Ogba also granted leave to the management of Chrisland School  to have access to the toxicology samples of tests conducted on Whitney Adeniran for an independent forensic pathologist’s assessment and evaluation following agreement by parties involved.

The magistrate affirmed that the application for an independent review was served on both the state and the counsel to the family and neither the family nor their counsel filed any counter affidavit to oppose this motion for an independent reevaluation to unravel the truth.

Counsel to the State had earlier applied that the court should order the attendance of the state pathologist at the cost of the applicant.

Advertisement

With both the family and Chrisland school’s counsel aligned on this position, the Court therefore directed that the consultation by the independent forensic pathologist be carried out within Lagos State and the pathologist of the deceased’s family granted  access as an observer during the exercise.

Chrisland School had on April 3 filed an application, seeking an order of the court for leave to   have access to the under listed items from the chief medical examiner of the Lagos state university hospital or relevant officer so as to enable the school consult with an independent pathologist.

The items the school asked for are the paraffin block of the skin sample and slides from which the diagnosis of electrocution was made.

“Samples of the urine, blood and other body fluid collected at atoupsy, samples of bone and muscle taken from the deceased for purpose of DNA independent analysis.

“All photographs taken during the conduct of the autopsy, copies of all histology slides reported as part of the postmortem examination. Copies of any other working sample and documents made in the course of the autopsy and result of all toxicology test conducted”.