The Lagos state department of public prosecution (DPP) has arraigned four staff members of Chrisland High School Ikeja over the death of its student Whitney Adeniran.
The staffers were arraigned on Thursday on a two-count charge of manslaughter and negligent acts. The arraigned staff members include Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao, and Nwatu Ugochi Victoria. They were brought before Oyindamola Ogala, the judge of the Ikeja high court.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge after it was read to them.
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Whitney Adeniran died on February 9 during a sports event at Agege Stadium. Blessing Adeniran, Whitney’s mother, accused Chrisland of holding back information on the cause of her death.
Consequently, the state ministry of education ordered a temporary closure of the school pending an investigation. The state later revealed that an autopsy on February 15 showed that the girl died from asphyxia and electrocution.
The school has already tendered a public apology on the matter, but an inquest into the case is to begin on April 4.
The Lagos ministry of justice established a case of manslaughter and negligence against the school.
The ministry’s DPP had stated that the school and four of its staffers were to be charged to court accordingly.