Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has raised concerns over the ruling of Magistrate Mikhail Kadiri, who presided over the investigation into the death of 12-year-old Dowen College student, Master Sylvester Oromoni.
In a verdict delivered on Monday, April 15, the coroner cleared Dowen College of responsibility, attributing the boy's death to the negligence of the family doctor. Falana criticized the coroner's decision, highlighting the omission of toxicological examination on the "black substance" found in the deceased's stomach.
Despite evidence suggesting the boy may have been forced to ingest a poisonous substance, the coroner absolved Dowen College authorities. Falana also questioned the reversal of recommendations by the Acting Director of Public Prosecution of Lagos State regarding potential criminal negligence charges against school staff and students.
Furthermore, Falana criticized the coroner for overlooking evidence of bullying at the school and failing to hold responsible parties accountable. The coroner attributed the boy's death to natural causes, overlooking testimonies of bullying and torture by senior students.
Magistrate Kadiri's six-hour judgment concluded the boy's death as natural yet avoidable, implicating negligence from both parents and the medical team. Notably, some Dowen College students were absolved of involvement.
