Chrisland School: Nobody informed me about the death of my daughter, Withney Adeniran’s mother

IKEJA, Lagos – Trial of Chrisland High School over the death of 12 year old Whitney Adeniran continued today at the Lagos High Court, sitting in Ikeja, with Blessing Adeniran, mother of the deceased mounting the Witness box to testify.

She told the court that nobody told her that her that her daughter was dead even though she was physically present during the school’s inter house sport games.

She said that she found out about the death of her daughter herself, when she became worried that her daughter who was supposed to take part in the match past was missing only for her to find her lying on the bare floor at the Central Hospital.

Mrs Blessing Adeniran said she was not aware that the combination of Nitrazepam and Amitriptyline was toxic.

Adeniran told an Ikeja High Court on Wednesday during the resumed cross-examination. She said that she did not investigate to know the side effects of the drugs mentioned in a report by the Inland Specialist Hospital (exhibit PW1 (B)) dated Feb. 16,

The Lagos State Government had on March 31, 2023, charged Chrisland School Ltd., Opebi, and its principal, vice principal and two others for the death of Whitney. Whitney a 12-year-old student was allegedly electrocuted on Feb. 9, 2023, during the school’s inter-house sports at the Agege Stadium, Lagos State.

The defendants were arraigned before Justice Oyindamola Ogala. Those charged alongside the school are Ademoye Adewale (a cotton candy vendor), Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao (Principal), and Victoria Nwatu.

The drugs were prescribed on Jan. 20, 2023, at Inland Specialist Hospital, after the witness and her husband took the deceased to the hospital.Adeniran said that the school principal had called her on Jan. 20, 2023, to tell her that Whitney was ill and was having difficulty breathing.

“I called my husband to inform him because I was at the gym, he picked her from school and took her to the Hospital and he said I should join them there.

“I went to the hospital and met Whitney and her dad playing a game with his phone and I said she seemed fine to me. I also said they like going to the hospital and we laughed.”

She said that when Whitney’s vitals was checked, the doctor told them that she was okay and asked if she had exams in school that would warrant mild anxiety but the Adenirans told the doctor that Whitney was preparing for inter-house sports.

During cross-examination, led by Chief Richard Ahonaruogho (SAN), counsel to the second defendant, the witness said she had not investigated the drugs and did not know what they were meant to treat.

Ahonaruogho asked if she was aware that the drugs were meant to treat panic disorder, severe anxiety and insomnia, the witness answered in the negative. Adeniran told the court that she was mourning her daughter’s death and did not consider investigating the drugs.

When asked if she was told at the Agege Central Hospital and Diagnostic Limited, where the deceased was alleged to have been taken to from the stadium, that it was possibly cardiac arrest, witness answered yes.

Ahonaruogho asked if she was also told that there was a possible electrocution, she answered in the negative. He told the witness that Nitrazepam was meant to treat panic disorder, severe anxiety and insomnia, while Amitriptyline is to treat depression, and asked if she was aware of these, the witness said she did not know.

The counsel said that the combination of the drugs administered especially in a young person was a death sentence and asked if the witness was aware, she said: “I do not know.”

The counsel also asked if the deceased had visited other hospitals before Inland Specialist Hospital; the witness answered that apart from the hospital she was delivered, she only visited another hospital for an eye checkup.

Ms Bimpe Ajegbomogun, counsel to Ademoye Adewale, first defendant, asked the witness if she was in charge of administering the drugs prescribed and she responded yes.

Meanwhile, the witness told the court that on the morning of Feb. 9, 2023, she heard sounds from the kitchen and when she asked, it was the deceased making breakfast.

Ajegbomogun asked if the sound she heard was scary but Adesina informed the court that it was not and cooking was a noisy activity with pots and spoons.

Counsel asked if the witness was aware of the Snapchat group known as ‘Housewives of Lagos’ which Whitney was a member of and how she got to know about it.

Witness: “On Feb. 11, 2023, I had not slept since Feb. 9, 2023 so my husband asked to get some sleep otherwise I might collapse, so I went to the bed and placed my phone and that of Whitney beside me.

“Whitney’s phone started buzzing with incoming messages and I called my husband to take the phone because I had severe headache; the phone was locked so he asked who knew the password.

“My younger sister said she knew and opened the phone, that was how he saw the messages where the members of the group were discussing about how Whitney was electrocuted.”
Ajegbomogun asked if Whitney’s father was the one who first mentioned that she died of electrocution, the witness said no.

Earlier, Dr Babajide Martins, Director, Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had led the witness in examination asking her how she got to know that Whitney fell and what the actions she took.

Adeniran said that she got to the stadium but did not see Whitney participate in any of the match past, she said she got worried and went looking for her daughter and that led her to

the Agege Central Hospital where she found the lifeless body of her daughter.
Mr Olukayode Enitan (SAN), counsel to the third defendant, prayed for an adjournment for continuation of cross-examination. Justice Ogala, thereafter, adjourned the matter until Jan. 25, for continuation of cross-examination.