The Ikeja Magistrates Court handling the investigation of the death of Sylvester Oromoni, a student of Dowen College, Lekki in Lagos, resumed its sitting.
The sitting resumed on Tuesday, however, it was held behind closed doors with only a few relations allowed in.
Oromoni, 12, a student of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos died on 30 November 2021, after he was alleged to have been bullied and beaten by five of his colleagues.
His father had claimed he was attacked and fed a chemical.
But Dowen College dismissed the claim, alleging that the boy sustained injuries while playing football with his friends.
The case has been under a coroner’s inquiry, with the student’s family vowing to pursue the matter up to the apex court.
The Oromoni family is represented on the inquest by Femi Falana (SAN) while Bernard Onigah is representing the Nigeria Bar Association.
The accused persons and the Lagos government are equally represented by their lawyers.
Meanwhile, some groups have called for a speedy inquest “in the interest of justice”.
The groups spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Lagos after the sitting.
Among the groups was the Justice For Oromoni, whose Coordinator, Regent Youmor, called on the judiciary to ensure that the late student’s case was expeditiously concluded.
He begged that the case should be quickly heard to ensure quick dispensation of justice.
“To the layman, it will look like justice is delayed if the case drags. This is a national issue; it is not ethnic and not solely legal. It is more traditional and moral,” he said.
On his part, Ebitimi Dio-Posibi, chairman of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Lagos chapter, said his group would appreciate it if the judgement was delivered “as fast as possible”.
“That Oromoni has not been buried a year after his demise is against the customs and traditions of the Ijaw people, particularly as he was just a child,” he said.
Also speaking, Winifred Ibitaka, vice chairperson of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), said she was not happy that the case was “taking time”.
Ibitaka emphasised the need for justice to be delivered on time “so that the boy can be buried”.
