The Lagos State counsel, Akin George, did not oppose the application, and the coroner granted it, ordering that the chief medical examiner of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital should supply all the items to the applicant’s pathologist’s laboratory on the day of forensic consultation. The consultation will be under the supervision of the chief medical examiner of LASUTH or a relevant officer, and the parents of the deceased will be present.
The Lagos State government had on March 2 announced that an autopsy report on the student showed that she died due to asphyxia/electrocution during the school’s inter-house sports at Agege Stadium. On April 3, the school filed an application seeking access to some items from the chief medical examiner of LASUTH or any relevant officer to enable the school to consult an independent pathologist.
The items sought are the student’s skin sample, slides from which the diagnosis of electrocution was made, and samples of urine, blood and other body fluids collected for the autopsy. The school also applied to have access to samples of bone and muscle taken from the deceased. It also applied to be given all photographs taken during the autopsy, and copies of all histology slides reported as part of the post-mortem examination. The school also requested to be given any other samples and documents made during the autopsy. It equally sought access to the results of all toxicology tests conducted on the late student.
The death of Whitney Adeniran caused a public outcry, with many people demanding answers as to how the incident occurred. The school issued a statement expressing its condolences and saying it was cooperating with the authorities investigating the matter. Chrisland Schools is one of the most prominent private schools in Lagos, with several branches across the city.
It has won several awards for academic excellence and has produced many notable alumni who have excelled in various fields. The incident has led to a renewed focus on safety measures during school events and the need for schools to be more vigilant in ensuring the safety of their students.
The coroner’s inquest will provide an opportunity for the parents of the deceased to ask questions and seek answers as to the circumstances surrounding the death of their child. It will also provide an opportunity for the school to present its side of the story and for the pathologists to provide their professional opinions on the cause of death.
The inquest will be open to the public, and interested parties will be able to follow the proceedings and hear the evidence presented. The inquest will also be an opportunity for the authorities to review the safety measures in place at schools and to take appropriate action to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.
The death of a student is always a tragedy, and the loss of Whitney Adeniran has sent shockwaves through the education sector in Lagos and the wider society. The inquest will be an important step in the process of seeking justice for the deceased and ensuring that schools are held accountable for the safety of their students. It is hoped that the outcome of the inquest will provide closure for the parents of the deceased and help to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.