Dowen College: Lawyers Call For Justice For Sylvester Oromoni

Waliu Bello, Senior Counsel at Kola Oloyede & Co. Chambers, Ibadan, says no stone should be left unturned in investigations into the death of 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos State.

Bello remarked on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan.

Sylvester Oromoni, a student of Dowen College, was allegedly beaten to death by some students of the school because he refused to join a cult group.

“Nobody should be forced to join an association.

“Students should be informed about the consequences of bullying while serious punishments should be given to anyone found guilty,” he said.

The lawyer advised school owners to step up monitoring of students.

According to him, boarding schools, especially, should deploy guards on every floor to adequately monitor hostels.

He said that there should be regular and unannounced visits to schools by relevant government officials.

“Students should be engaged directly to lay their complaints; government needs to step up oversight functions.

“Also, ministries of education need to create modalities for operation of hostel facilities by schools,” he said.

Kunle Abimbola, also a lawyer in Ibadan, said that justice should be well-served in Oromoni’s case after diligent and painstaking investigations into his death.

He said that ensuring justice would serve as a deterrent to other students.

Abimbola also urged school owners to be more vigilant and careful.

“Though government officials cannot be everywhere at the same time, they should be more proactive and play their supervisory roles on schools.

“The death of Sylvester is most unfortunate and, to say the least, shocking,” he said.