A torrent of tears was let out yesterday as the remains of the 12-year-old student of Chrisland International School, Whitney Adeniran, were buried in Lagos.
The burial ceremony was attended by family members and friends.
Adeniran who attended the Opebi, Ikeja branch of the school, died in a mysterious circumstance on February 9, 2023, during the school’s inter-house sports held at Agege Stadium in Lagos.
The school’s management argued that Whitney complained about “not-too-buoyant health” a few days before she died and dismissed insinuations that there was a foul play in the death case while citing that she slumped in public.
However, the parents insisted that Whitney was alive and kicking in the morning of that day when she was ferried in her school bus to the venue of the sporting event.
Mother of the deceased, Mrs. Blessing Adeniran said the autopsy conducted on her daughter revealed that she was electrocuted.
“My daughter was butchered for autopsy. She was opened up. They took part of her kidney, liver, stomach contents, blood, brain, and bone marrow. Omodesola was butchered just because Chrisland kept protecting its reputation.
“The autopsy result is out and Desola was electrocuted. My daughter died of electrocution. I have been subjected to trauma for the past two weeks. Tomorrow will be three weeks since my baby died. The school made me think I am crazy. They started pushing the narrative of she was sick; she was sickly. They sent letters and publications out.
“People insulted my family and me. My child was electrocuted to death. I told the school I don’t want trouble. All I want is answers. They came to my house and knelt down.
“I begged, I pleaded, I said ‘Mrs. Amao please, I don’t know how an autopsy is being done but I have browsed it and the image is scary. Please my daughter is already dead, don’t make me put her through that, they will butcher her. I beg you in the name of God, you are a mother, help me investigate and find out what happened.
“She said she doesn’t know. They refused to investigate. Omodesola was butchered just because Chrisland kept protecting their reputation,” Adeniran, stated in a live Instagram video.
Meanwhile, the state government has confirmed that Whitney died from asphyxia and electrocution.
This is contained in a statement from the office of the attorney-general and commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, on Thursday in Lagos.
The statement said the post-mortem report issued by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital on Wednesday, February March1, traced the cause of death to asphyxia and electrocution.
The statement added that the directorate of public prosecutions (DPP) had been instructed to issue legal advice on the matter with immediate effect.
“The Lagos State government commiserates with the deceased family, while reassuring Lagosians that anybody found culpable would immediately be charged to court,” said the statement.
Onigbanjo had, on February 13, ordered a coroner’s inquest to ascertain the cause of death of the late Whitney, who died on February 9 during the school’s inter-house sports.
The government also said it will ensure justice for the pupil.
The commissioner for education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, gave the assurance on yesterday when she paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased at their Lagos residence.
She confirmed the receipt of the post-mortem report on the cause of Whitney’s death and restated the commitment of the state government, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu that nothing would be spared at ensuring appropriate interrogation of the cause and prosecution of anyone found culpable.
