The Lagos State government said on Sunday that Chrisland High School, where a student died on February 9 during an inter-house sporting event, will remain closed.
It was said that the reason for the school’s protracted closure following the passing of Whitney Adeniran, a 12-year-old pupil, was to further examine claims of endangering kids and others.
“The closure of the school paved the way for unhindered investigation and afforded all stakeholders, including parents, students, staff and friends of the deceased, time to grief,’’ Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, stated.
“In view of the circumstances surrounding the death of the child, the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice ordered a coroner’s inquest into the matter to ascertain the cause.
“The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) conducted the autopsy on Feb. 15.
“It was conducted by Prof. Sunday Soyemi, Consultant Pathologist, LASUTH in the presence of Dr Samuel Keshinro, Consultant Pathologist, representing the deceased’s family and Dr Olugbenga Oyewole, Consultant Pathologist representing Chrisland Schools.
“The autopsy report, dated March 1, revealed the cause of death as asphyxia and electrocution.
“The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice consequently directed that the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to issue a legal advice on the matter.
“Without prejudice to the criminal proceedings, the school will remain shut to further interrogate the endangerment of students and others,’’ the commissioner added.
She said that a delegation from the Office of Education Quality Assurance met with the school’s administration to discuss compliance with child safety regulations.
“The meeting examined the planning of the inter-house sports event and the aftermath of the unfortunate incident.
“It was discovered that there were lapses,’’ she said in the statement.
Adefisayo noted that on March 2, a government delegation went to meet the deceased’s family to express their condolences.
She guaranteed that anyone discovered to be responsible for Whitney’s death will be brought before the authorities.
The commissioner added that government organizations had begun fact-finding trips to Lagos’ Agege Stadium, the site of the inter-house sporting event.
