Court charges Chrisland, Principal, and others for negligent homicide

Chrisland School Limited, its vice principal, principal, and two other staff members were charged by the Lagos State Government on Thursday over the passing of Whitney Adeniran, a student at the school.

Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao, and Victoria Nwatu were among the employees who were charged with the school before Judge Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja.

The defendants were charged with two counts of alleged reckless and negligent behavior as well as two counts of alleged involuntary manslaughter.

Amao, the principal of the school, was shown sobbing inside the dock shortly after she, the other staff members, and the school had entered their plea.

Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), the state’s attorney general, announced his presence on behalf of the prosecution when the case was called. He also informed the court that the state had charged the defendants with two counts.

Bimpe Ajegbomojun, the first defendant’s attorney, announced her arrival. Chief Richard Ahonaruogho, SAN, Olukayode Enitan, SAN, Ademola Animashaun, SAN, and chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, appeared for the second and third defendants, respectively.

The state claimed that the incident happened on February 9, 2023 in the charge information written by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins.

The defendants allegedly killed Whitney Adeniran at the Agege Sports Stadium at around 1pm by acting carelessly and negligently in a way that put her life in danger.

The indictment asserts that the offense violated Sections 224 and 251 of the Lagos State Criminal Code from 2015.

However, the defendants entered a plea of not guilty to the accusations made against them.

Onigbanjo then informed the court that the state will be calling 17 witnesses during the trial and asked the court for a date for an open trial as a result.

The prosecution had not objected to the defendants’ oral motion for bail, the defendants’ attorney informed the court in the meanwhile.

Adewale has been in police detention since March 6, 2023, according to the first defendant’s attorney, Ajegbomojun, who pleaded with the court to release him on bail while the charge was being resolved.

Nwatu, the fourth defendant, was granted liberal bail, according to Animashaun, the defendant’s attorney.

Onigbanjo, who did not oppose to the oral bail applications, pleaded with the judge to release them on bond so that they could appear in court.

In his decision on the bail requests, Judge Ogala granted the school’s vice principal and principal bail in the amount of N20 million each with two trustworthy and reliable sureties in the amount of N10 million each.

The sureties, according to the judge, must reside within the court’s geographic jurisdiction and provide documentation of their financial standing.

In addition, the sureties’ offices and residences must be validated by the Chief Registrar of the Lagos State High Court, and they must provide proof of three years of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.

The defendants’ international passports must be deposited with the chief registrar, according to Ogala’s ruling.

The second defendant, Kuku, a teacher at the school, and the first defendant, Adewale, a vendor, were both given bail in the amount of N10 million, with two reliable sureties in the same amount.

They must also have their offices and residences validated by the chief registrar, as well as provide proof of three years of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.

The defendants were instructed by Judge Ogala to turn in their international passports to the chief registrar.

Trial in the matter was postponed to May 25, June 1, and June 15, 2023.