'Autopsies Revealed Sylvester Oromoni Died A Natural Death' — Hakeem Odumosu

Hakeem Odumosu, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, held a press briefing to disclose the results of the investigation conducted on the death of 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni.

According to Odumosu, the results from the first and second autopsies carried out on Sylvester's body in Delta and Lagos State indicated that he died a natural death.

''A post mortem examination was initially carried out on December 2, 2021 by a Consultant Pathologist, Dr. Clement Vhriterhire of the Central Hospital, Warri, Delta State. The result of the first autopsy dated December 10, 2021, attributed the cause of death to ‘acute lung injury due to chemical intoxication in a background of blunt force trauma’.

"However, toxicology screening was recommended and also carried out. While waiting for the result of the toxicology, another autopsy was ordered by the Coroner Magistrate in Lagos because of the status of jurisdiction. The corpse was, therefore, moved with armed police escorts from Delta State to Lagos State by TOS Funeral and the autopsy conducted at the expense of the Lagos State Government," the Commissioner said.

He continued that a second autopsy, which was carried out on December 12, 2021, in the presence of representatives of all the parties involved in the case, at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), corroborated the result of the first autopsy that the deceased died a natural death.

Regarding the five students of Dowen College who were arrested on the allegation that they had a hand in Sylvester's death, Odumosu stated that before the expiration of the 21 days remand order by the court, the families of the accused students applied to the court for their bail which was granted. He added that the House Masters who were also arrested were granted bail after the expiration of the 21 days remand order.

The Commissioner continued that all the suspects pleaded not guilty to all allegations surrounding Sylvester's death.

Below are the submissions of Dr. SS Soyemi, the consultant pathologist who led the team of pathologists to carry out the autopsy as quoted by Odumosu.

"Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, a 12-year old student of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, reportedly died on November 30, 2021, at a private hospital in Warri, Delta State.

"It was alleged that the deceased was physically assaulted and poisoned in the school prior to death. The first autopsy was done in Warri on December 2, 2021.

"Following an order for a second autopsy, the body of the deceased was brought to Lagos for a second autopsy.

"Our findings at the second autopsy include marked pallor of organs, pneumonia (infection of the lungs), infections of the liver and kidneys as well as the heart. These infections emanated from the ankle infection described earlier in the report. Microscopic sections also confirmed these findings.

"Death was caused by Septicaemia following infections of the lungs and kidneys arising from the ankle wound.

"No evidence of blunt force trauma in this body.

"The findings in the esophagus and stomach are not compatible with chemical intoxication. Death, in this case, is natural.