Sylvester Oromoni, the father of the late 12-year-old pupil
of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, has restated the
family’s commitment to get justice, saying that he would not bury his son even
if it takes 30 years to get justice.
He also kicked against the report of the autopsy carried out
at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, alleging that there was
foul play.
Sylvester’s death went viral following a social media post
by his cousin, Perry Oromoni, who alleged that some senior pupils of the school
beat him up in his hostel because he refused to join a cult.
The school denied the claim, stating that the boy complained of leg pains following an injury he sustained while playing football.
The state government ordered the indefinite closure of the
school pending the outcome of an investigation into the matter.
Five students and five employees of the school were arrested
by the police but legal advice by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions,
Adetutu Oshinusi, cleared the suspects.
The autopsy carried out by a consultant pathologist at the
Central Hospital Warri, Clement Vhriterhire, revealed that Sylvester died of
“acute lung injury due to chemical intoxication in a background of blunt force
trauma.”
But the interim and final autopsy report by LASUTH
attributed the cause of death to “Septicaemia, lobar pneumonia with acute
pyelonephritis and pyomyositis of the right ankle.”
However, the outgoing Commissioner of Police in the state,
Hakeem Odumosu, on Friday said the toxicology report of the first autopsy
carried out in Warri was released on December 30, 2021, signed by Vhriterhire,
attributing cause of death to “acute bacteria pneumonia due to severe sepsis.”
Sylvester Snr and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana,
had kicked against the DPP’s advice with the latter describing the report as
“escapist and hasty.”
Falana had said, “The report has not laid to rest the
allegations surrounding the gruesome murder of Sylvester Oromoni. The report is
escapist and hasty as the authorities are aware of the fact that the Chief
Coroner of Lagos State has ordered that an inquest be conducted into the
circumstances surrounding the unnatural death of Sylvester Oromoni. The
inquest, which commenced before the coroner on December 16, 2021, has been
adjourned till January 15, 2022 for further hearing.”
Speaking to our correspondent on Friday the father said the
case had yet to have a closure, insisting that his son would not be buried
until “justice is served” even if it took as long as 30 years.
He said, “The family does not have power. We only rely on
God. If they insist that the school will reopen, there is no problem. If God
keeps me for 20 or 30 years, I will follow up this case. Government will come,
the government will go. I am not bothered. The soul of that boy is crying
round. God is alive; He cannot be bribed.
“My son will never be buried. If it takes me 30 years to get
justice, he would remain there (in the mortuary). He is my son; I won’t bury
him. Nigerians should look beyond what they are saying.”
Asked if he had any doubt over the autopsy released by the
state government, he retorted “Do they have any autopsy report? They don’t have
any. The doctor that did the autopsy in Delta State was recommended by the Area
Commander. He is not the family doctor. We don’t know him. Our lawyer applied
to the Area Command to get a copy of the autopsy.”
But Odumosu, during a press briefing held at the police
headquarters in Ikeja on Friday and tagged ‘Sylvester Oromoni Jnr: Update on
Investigation,’ dismissed any foul play.
He said eight persons–five pupils and three house masters –
were arrested following a petition to the police on the matter, adding that on
December 9, 2021, he interviewed the late pupil’s family, the school
management, and witnesses at the command’s headquarters.
He said, “During the open interview, it was unanimously
agreed that another autopsy should be carried out where pathologists from all
parties would be present. Investigation was extended to Delta State and Abuja.
I will like to state here that investigation revealed that the same case was
reported at the Area Command Warri, Delta State, on December 1, 2021.
“It has also been established that a post mortem examination
was initially carried out on December 2, 2021 by a Consultant Pathologist, Dr.
Clement Vhriterhire of the Central Hospital, Warri, Delta State. The result of
the first autopsy dated December 10, 2021 attributed the cause of death to
‘acute lung injury due to chemical intoxication in a background of blunt force
trauma.’
“However, toxicology screening was recommended and also
carried out. While waiting for the result of the toxicology, another autopsy
was ordered by the Coroner Magistrate in Lagos because of the status of
jurisdiction. The corpse was, therefore, moved with armed police escorts from
Delta State to Lagos State by TOS Funeral and the autopsy conducted at the
expense of the Lagos State Government. The second autopsy was carried out at
the Lagos state University Teaching Hospital on December 14, 2021 in the
presence of representatives of all the parties involved in the case.”
The CP said the second autopsy was carried out by the
Consultant Pathologist and Chief Examiner, Department of Pathology and Forensic
Sciences, LASUTH, Dr. S.S Soyemi, witnessed by representatives of all the
parties, including Vhriterhire, as well as police officers, among other
principal officials.
Odumosu said the final results of the post mortem and
toxicology examination conducted at Delta and Lagos states agreed that the
deceased died a natural death.
He stated, “Before the expiration of the 21 days remand
order, the families of the students applied for their bail at the Magistrates’
Court 1 Yaba. The application was approved hence the students who were earlier
remanded at Boys Home, Oregun, were granted bail. The house masters were also
granted bail after the expiration of the 21 days remand order.
“The result of the second autopsy carried out in Lagos was
released on December 21, 2021. The result attributed the cause of death to
‘Septicaemia, lobar pneumonia with acute pyelonephritis and pyomyositis of the
right ankle.’ On December 30, 2021, the toxicology screening results of the
first autopsy carried out in Warri was released. The result issued and signed
by Dr Clement Vhriterhire, the same doctor who carried out the initial autopsy,
attributed the cause of death to ‘acute bacteria pneumonia due to severe sepsis.’
“At the end of diligent investigation carried out so far,
there is no evidence to establish a case of torture, bullying and forceful
application of poisonous substance against the suspects. All the suspects
denied the allegations of torture, bullying and administering of poisonous
substance to the deceased. Allegation that the deceased was being forced to
join a cult group was also not established as other students interviewed denied
this.”
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