Whitney: Chrisland Principal Wept Loudly As Lagos Government Arraigns School, Others For Manslaughter

The Lagos State government has arraigned Chrisland School and some of its staff members before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja over the death of a 12-year-old student, Whitney Omodesola Adeniran.

VerseNews Nigeria reported that Whitney died during an inter-house sports event hosted by the school on February 9, 2023.

The affected staff is the principal, Mrs Belinda Amao, the Vice Principal, Nwatu Victoria, and a teacher in the school, Kuku Fatai. The other defendant is a vendor at the Agege Stadium, Ademoye Adewale.

They were all arraigned on Thursday on a two-count charge of involuntary manslaughter, and acting in a reckless and negligent manner that endangered her life.

The applicant is the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Lagos, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Moyosore Onigbanjo who represents the State Government.

During the ruling, Onigbanjo, told the court that the state had filed two count counts against the defendants.

The defendants pleaded not guilty after the counts were read before them.

This Online News Media reports that they principal reacting to the counts wept loudly while in the dock.

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Speaking further, Onigbanjo told the court that he has about seventeen witnesses to testify against the defendant but pleaded for a date enable the prosecution open trial.

However, Justice Ogala granted the defendants bail through the bail application filed by the defence team.

In her ruling after a short break, Justice Ogala granted the principal and vice principal of Chrisland School, Mrs Belinda Amao, and Nwatu Ugochi Victoria, bail in the sum of N20m each with two sureties in the sum of N10m each.

The other two defendants were granted bail in the sum of 10m each with two sureties in like sum pending the hearing and determination of the charge against them.

The court also ruled that the sureties must be residents within the jurisdiction of the court and their financial status and address must be credible and verifiable.

All defendants must also provide evidence of payment of tax for the last three years as well as deposit their international passport with the registrar of the court.