Sylvester Oromoni: Lagos exonerates suspects, says student died of lungs, kidneys infection

The Lagos State Government has exonerated all the suspects earlier arrested in relation to the death of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr., the Dowen College, Lekki, student who was allegedly bullied by his seniors.

The government in a Legal Advice to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Special Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, Lagos, consequently called for the release of the suspects, among whom were students and staff.

It claimed that there was “no prima facie case of murder, involuntary manslaughter and or malicious administering of poison with intent to harm”, against the suspects.

The suspects were listed as Favour Benjamin, 16; Michael Kashamu, 15; Edward Begue, 16; Ansel Temile, 14 and Kenneth Inyang, 15, all students of Dowen College.

In the same vein, the government said it had insufficient evidence to prosecute Miss Celina Uduak, Valentine Igboekweze, Hammed Ayomo Bariyu, Adesanya Olusesan Olusegun, Mr. Adeyemi (all staff of the school) and Dowen College, for the “offence of Negligent Act Causing Harm”.

RELIABLESOURCENG.COM reports that the legal counsel to the Oromoni family, Femi Falana SAN, had called for a judicial inquest into the death of the 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni Jnr.

According to the Legal Advice, dated 4^th January 2022, issued by the office of Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Lagos State, and signed on its behalf by Ms Adetutu Oshinusi, Director, Directorate of Public Prosecutions, both the autopsy conducted by the Oromoni family and that of Lagos State Government arrived at the same conclusion as to the cause of Sylvester’s death.

READ: EXCLUSIVE: Three students accused in death of Sylvester Oromoni surrender to police

The Legal Advice with reference number LJP/HOM/2021/165 reads in part: “It is clear from the interim and final Autopsy Reports dated 21^st and 31^st of December 2021 that the Deceased died as a result of: (i) Septicaemia, (ii) Lobar Pneumonia and (iii) Acute Pyelonephritis, Pyomyositis of the right ankle, meaning severe generalized infections involving the lungs and kidneys arising from an ankle ulcer.

“On the 13^th of December, 2021, the body of the Deceased was brought to Lagos for a second post-mortem examination with the consent of the Deceased’s family. The second post-mortem was carried out by a Pathologist in the Department of Forensic Pathology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) on the 14^th of December 2021 in the presence of the seven (7) Pathologists (the Pathologist who performed the first autopsy from Central Hospital, Warri, representing the family of the Deceased, four (4) other Pathologists representing the families of the suspects and two (2) other pathologists from LASUTH) and three (3) Police Officers. The interim and full Autopsy Reports of the Pathologists dated 21^st and 31^st December 2021 revealed cause of death as Septicaemia, Lobar Pneumonia with Acute Pyelonephritis, Pyomyositis of the right ankle.

“The outcome of both post-mortem examinations conducted were in agreement as to the cause of death namely: Septicaemia, Lobar Pneumonia with Acute Pyelonephritis, Pyomyositis of the right ankle and Acute Bacteria Pneumonia due to severe Sepsis. The result of the Toxicology is also not indicative of any toxic or poisonous substance in the body of the Deceased.”