On Thursday 30th March 2023, the principal, vice principal, and two employees of Chrisland International School, Opebi were charged with the death of Whitney Adeniran, a 12-year-old student who died during the school’s inter-house sports activities at the Agege Stadium in Lagos, Nigeria
According to reports, Adeniran collapsed on Thursday 9th February 2023 during the event and was placed on the school bus, transporting her to the hospital.
She passed away on the way to the hospital. It was alleged that the school held the event without proper medical personnel or safety corps.
However, an autopsy report conducted by Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) dated March 1st, 2023, revealed that Adeniran’s cause of death was asphyxia and electrocution.
Whitney’s father, Dr. Michael Adeniran, told BBC Pidgin that he believes the school is not giving the true account of what happened to his daughter, claiming that she died from electrocution caused by a naked wire from a cotton candy vendor’s machine after she touched it.
He has documented evidence to support his claim and disputes the school’s assertion that his daughter died from cardiac arrest.
The defendants were charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless and negligent acts preferred against them by the state. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
