Justice Oyindamola Ogala of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday, heard that Chrisland School, Ikeja, violated the child protection policy of the state.
The prosecution witness, Jubril Yakubu, disclosed this during the ongoing trial of staff of Chrisland School, Ikeja, over alleged negligence, following the death of a student, Whitney Adeniran, during an inter-house sports competition at Agege Stadium, Lagos State.
Lagos State Government had filed criminal charges against Chrisland School Opebi and its principal, vice principal, and two others over the death of Whitney on March 31, 2023.
At the resumed hearing, Yakubu, the third prosecution witness and deputy director with the Ministry of Youth and Social Development in Lagos State, told the court that the ministry’s findings showed that the school’s preparedness for emergency during the competition was close to none. He explained that the school had just a nurse, and there was no ambulance to convey any student to a hospital in the case of any emergency.
Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel and Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Babajide Martins, the witness further told court that the school did not have a designated Child Safeguarding Protection Policy personnel as required by the Safeguarding Executive Order of the state. The matter was adjourned till March 13, for continuation of trial.
