Whitney’s death: Emergency facility not compulsory in stadiums, Yakubu says

A Deputy Director with the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr. Jubril Yakubu has told a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja that a stadium does not need to have an emergency facility.

Yakubu, who is a prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Chrisland School and its staff over allegations of negligence, said that the stadium, which the school rented, does not need to have an emergency facility.

The state had charged the school, Ademoye Adewale (a cotton candy vendor), Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao (Principal) and Victoria Nwatu for alleged negligence over death of a student, Whitney Adeniran during an Inter-house sports competition that was held at the Agege Stadium, Lagos State.

However, at the resumed hearing yesterday, the third prosecution witness, Yakubu when he was cross-examined by the third defendant’s counsel, Mr Olukayode Enitan (SAN), told the court that sport facilities in the state are owned by the state government.

When he was asked if it was part of the work of the Sport Commission to establish and make sure that there are proper medical facilities to treat emergencies, he said no.

Earlier in the cross-examination, he was asked to read Official Gazette of Lagos State No 9 volume 50, which was admitted as exhibit.

He said the commission was created by the law of Lagos State, adding that the Law No 4 in the Executive order states the functions of the Commission.

They include establishing and maintaining playing fields and premises of holding sports competitions, marches, etc., where the district has social workers in charge.

He also told the court that he does not know if it is normal for people to pay for usage of a sports facility.

Yakubu admitted knowing Agege Stadium as part of a recreational centre.
He was therefore asked to read the Order four of the Executive Order, 2016 which he admitted that it applies to Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Development and not every other officer in Lagos State’s public sector.

Yakubu had in his testimony told the court that he held an official meeting in 2023 with the staff of Chrisland School, adding that there were minutes and video recordings of what happened in that meeting.

“I don’t have the minutes of the meeting because I’m not the administrative secretary,” he said.

After listening to his evidence, with the agreement of counsel to all parties, Justice Ogala adjourned further proceedings to April 18, 2024.