Chrisland: Lawyers Disagree Over Autopsy Report As Court Schedules Inquest Hearing

The hearing for the Coroner Inquest to confirm the cause of death of Whitney Adeniran, a 12-year-old student at Chrisland Schools, Ikeja, who passed away during the school’s inter-house sports activities at Agege Stadium, Lagos on February 9, 2023, has been scheduled to begin on April 4. 

The Coroner Magistrate, Olabisi Fajana, fixed this date on Monday, following the submissions made by all the lawyers who appeared before the Magistrate Court in Ogba.

During the court session, Femi Falana (SAN), the legal representative for the deceased's family, informed the court that they were unable to submit a witness statement as instructed by the court on the previously adjourned date. 

Falana explained that the magistrate’s registry refused to process the enrollment of the witness statement due to the absence of a provision for filing coroner processes.

Similarly, Olukayode Enitan (SAN), the legal representative for Chrisland School, and Akin George, the Lagos State lawyer, confirmed Falana's statement and requested guidance from the court on how to file their processes. 

However, Magistrate Fajana informed the lawyers that she would seek directions from the Chief Magistrate on the appropriate method for filing the processes before the Coroner.

Meanwhile, Enitan, the school's lawyer, informed the court that he had submitted an application seeking permission to obtain samples and materials to conduct an independent assessment of the autopsy report.

Responding, Falana pointed out that they had not yet received any notification regarding the matter. 

He stated that the autopsy of the deceased had been conducted in the presence of the school representatives and other relevant parties.

In response to the application made by Enitan, Akin George, the Lagos State lawyer, clarified that the state had only received a letter and not an official application. 

He added that the state would provide a response when the time was appropriate.

As a result, Magistrate Fajana postponed the start of the trial until April 4 and instructed all lawyers to ensure that their processes were filed and confirmed by April 3.

Lagos State Government confirmed the autopsy report revealed by Whitney's mother, Blessing in an Instagram live on March 1 and assured every party involved in the sad event would be brought to book.