Whitney Adeniran: Lagos government to charge Chrisland School and its employees with manslaughter

The Lagos State government has finally decided to charge Chrisland School, some staff members, and a vendor in court in connection with the death of a student, Whitney Adeniran.

They would face manslaughter, negligence, and recklessness charges.

In a statement issued on Friday, Lagos Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Moyosore Onigbanjo, through the Office of the Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, insisted that the suspects would be charged in accordance with Sections 224 and 251 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

“They will thus be charged with the offences of Involuntary Manslaughter and Reckless and Negligent Acts contrary to Sections 224 & 251 of the Criminal Law, Ch C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015,” Onigbanjo said.

“Information will be filed in accordance with the DPP’s legal advice.”

Adeniran was reported to have died on February 9, 2023, at Agege Stadium, during Chrisland’s inter-house sports competition.

The deceased’s father, Michael Adeyemi Adeniran, stated that her daughter was in good health at the time the school bus picked her up for the event.

An autopsy performed by the Lagos government, however, revealed that Adeniran died as a result of asphyxia and electrocution.

Following the contentious circumstances surrounding Adeniran’s death, the Lagos government ordered a coroner’s inquest to determine the cause of the student’s death.

The Coroner, Magistrate Olabisi Fajana, later revealed that the coroner’s inquest to determine Adeniran’s cause of death would begin on April 4.