Chrisland School Ltd and four staff members of the school have been arraigned before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Ikeja High Court for the alleged manslaughter of a 12-year-old student Whitney Adeniran.
The defendants were charged by the Lagos State Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) a two-count charge of manslaughter and negligent acts on Thursday.
The staff members who were arraigned are Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao, Nwatu Ugochi Victoria.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to them.
On February 9, 2023, the news of Whitney’s death broke the internet.
The 12-year-old was reported to have died during a sports event at Agege Stadium.
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The mother of the deceased, Blessing Adeniran, alleged that Chrisland School is holding back information on the cause of her daughter’s death.
Following Whitney’s death, the state Ministry of Education ordered a temporary closure of the school pending an investigation.
The state later disclosed that an autopsy on February 15 showed that the 12-year-old girl died from asphyxia and electrocution.
While the school recently tendered a public apology on the matter, an inquest into the case will commence on April 4.
The Lagos State Ministry of Justice established a case of manslaughter and negligence against the school.
The ministry’s DPP had stated that the school and four staffers were to be charged to court accordingly.