Four staff members of Chrisland School, Ikeja, Lagos, accused of involuntary manslaughter in the death of a 12-year-old student, Adeniran Omodesola Whitney, during the school’s Inter-House Sports competition, have been granted bail by Justice Oyindamola Ogala of a Lagos High Court. Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao, and Nwatu Victoria, along with the school, were arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on involuntary manslaughter, reckless and negligent acts.
The charge, prepared by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Jide Martins, alleges that the defendants killed Whitney by acting recklessly and negligently that endangered her life on February 9, 2023, at about 1 pm, at the Agege Sports Stadium, Agege, Lagos, in the Ikeja Judicial Division. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, urged the court to take their plea. The court granted bail to the 1st and 2nd defendants in the sum of N10m each with two responsible sureties in like sum. The sureties must produce before the court their financial status and two years’ evidence of tax payment to the LASG, and they must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court. The defendants must also submit their international passports to the Chief Registrar of the court, and the financial status of the sureties must be verified by the court.
For the 3rd and 4th defendants, they were granted bail in the sum of N20m each, with two responsible sureties in the sums of N10m. The sureties must produce their financial status and two years’ evidence of tax payment to the LASG, be resident within the jurisdiction of the court, and the defendants must submit their international passports to the Chief Registrar of the court. The financial status of the sureties must be verified by the court.
Chief Ayorinde SAN, representing Chrisland (5th defendant) alongside Mr. Yele Delano SAN, urged the court to invoke Section 357 of ACJL that the Court should enter a Not Guilty plea for Chrisland being a corporate body and the court obliged.
The case has been adjourned until May 25, June 1, 8, and 15 for trial to begin.
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