Whitney: Coroner cautions lawyers against delay
Whitney
The inquest set up by Lagos State government to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of a student of Chrisland Schools, Whitney Adeniran, yesterday, cautioned against unnecessary questions.
Magistrate Olabisi Fajana said such irrelevant questions by counsel would delay the conclusion of the inquest.
The warning followed a request by Olukayode Enitan, one of the school’s counsel, seeking the picture of the student posted on social media by her father after her death.
The Magistrate said the more relevant the questions are, the faster the inquest would be.
She asked Lagos State counsel, Akin George, to get a picture of the deceased from the investigative police officer and tender it in evidence so that Enitan could request for it.
In his submission, George said that the inquest was to know where, when and how Whitney died, as well as to know if anyone was responsible.
He said that he did not see how social media applied to knowing how the incident occurred.
The 12-year-old student died during the school’s inter-house sports on February 9, 2023, at the Agege Stadium, Lagos.
Meanwhile, during continued cross-examination of the deceased’s father, Mr. Michael Adeniran, who is the second witness in the inquest.
The counsel had asked the witness if he was aware that one of the drugs (Nitrazepam 5mg) prescribed to Whitney by a doctor from Inland Specialist Hospital, was used in treating epilepsy.
The witness responded that he was not aware.
Enitan said that the risk of death from using Netrazepam in children was 75 per cent.
The counsel, referring to paragraph 49 of the witness’s statement, asked Michael Adeniran how he reached the conclusion that Whitney was not administered first aid before her death.
Enitan said a qualified nurse attended to the student before she died.
However, Mr. Adeniran said that he would not believe it since the school nurse told him that she was not there when the incident occurred but was called, and when she got there, she saw Whitney on the ground without a pulse.
Referring to the outfit Whitney wore on the fateful day, the counsel told the court that the deceased was wearing a green shirt and a short, representing green house, and had sneakers with a rubber sole.
He said that the sole would make electrocution difficult.
Responding, the witness said that when he saw the deceased at the Agege Central Hospital, she did not wear any shoes.
The counsel asked the witness if he took pictures of the deceased, and he responded that the pictures he posted on his Instagram page was taken by the police.
Enitan further asked if the witness was active on social media, and he responded, “Yes”.
Meanwhile, counsel to the Adeniran family, Mr Femi Falani, said that he had no questions.
He submitted that Enitan was taking the witness to the medical terrain whereas medical practitioners would testify at the inquest.
Further hearing on the inquest was adjourned to May 15.
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