Whitney Adeniran’s Death: Stadium Rented by Chrisland Lacked Emergency Facilities, Official Tells Court

Aprosecution witness in the Lagos government’s case against Chrisland School says the stadium the embattled school rented lacked emergency facilities. A government official, Mr Jubril Yakubu, told the Ikeja Division of the Lagos High Court that “there was no need for it (the emergency facility)” during the ongoing trial of some Chrisland personnel.

The Lagos government alleged the school and the staff of negligence over the death of a student, Whitney Adeniran, during an inter-house sports competition that was held at the Agege Stadium.

The government had filed a criminal charge against the school, its principal, vice principal and two others for the death of Whitney on March 31, 2023.

However, during cross-examination by the third defendant’s counsel, Mr Olukayode Enitan (SAN), the third prosecution witness, a deputy director with the Laogos Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Yakubu told the court that the government owns the sports facility.

When asked if establishing and ensuring proper medical facilities to treat emergencies was part of the work of the Lagos sports commission, he responded, “No.”

Earlier in the cross-examination, he was asked to read the Official Gazette of Lagos State No. 9 volume 50, which was admitted as an exhibit. He said the law of Lagos created the commission, noting that law No. 4 states the commission’s function will be to establish and maintain clean fields and premises for holding sports competitions, marches, etc.

Yakubu admitted that Agege Stadium is one of the recreational centres.

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

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

Whitney, a JSS 2 of the elite school, was allegedly electrocuted during the school’s inter-house sports held at Agege Stadium on February 9, 2023.

Whitney’s father accused the school management of negligence that led to the untimely death of his daughter, who left home that day hale and hearty.