Whitney’s Death: Inquest Adjourned Till May 15, Cautions Counsel Against Unnecessary Questions

The Coroner Inquest to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of a student of Chrisland Schools, Miss Whitney Adeniran, has adjourned till May 15, 2023 as it cautioned against unnecessary questions by counsel.

Magistrate Olabisi Fajana who gave the warning noted that irrelevant questions by counsel in the case might delay the conclusion of the inquest.

Fajana gave the warning while reacting to a request by Mr Olukayode Enitan, one of the school’s counsel, seeking the picture of the deceased posted on social media by her father.

According to the magistrate relevant questions will hasten the conclusion of the inquest.

She asked Lagos State counsel, Mr. Akin George, to get a picture of the deceased pupil from the investigative police officer and tender it in evidence so that Enitan could have it.

In his submission, George said that the inquest was to know where, when and how Whitney died, as well as to know if anyone was responsible.

He said that he did not see how social media could reveal how the incident happened.

The 12-year-old student died during the school’s inter-house sports on Feb. 9 at the Agege Stadium, Lagos.

Meanwhile during the cross-examination of a witness, Michael by Enitan, the counsel asked the witness if he was aware that one of the drugs (Netrazepam 5mg) prescribed to Whitney by a doctor from Inland Specialist Hospital, was used in treating epilepsy.

The witness responded that he was not aware.

Enitan said that the risk of death from using Netrazepam in children was 75 per cent.

The counsel, referring to paragraph 49 of the witness’s statement, asked him how he reached the conclusion that Whitney was not administered first aid before her death.

Enitan said that a qualified nurse attended to the student before she died.

However, the witness said that he would not believe it since the school nurse told him that she was not there when the incident occurred but was called, and when she got there, she saw Whitney on the ground with no pulse.

Referring to the outfit Whitney wore on the fateful day, the counsel told the court that the deceased was wearing a green shirt and a short, representing green house, and had sneakers with a rubber sole.

He said that the sole would make electrocution difficult.

Responding, the witness said that when he saw the deceased at the Agege Central Hospital, she did not wear any shoes.

The counsel asked the witness if he took pictures of the deceased, and he said that the pictures he posted on his Instagram page was taken by the police.

Enitan further asked if the witness was active on social media, and he responded, “Yes”.

Mr Femi Falani, counsel to the Adeniran Family, said that he had no questions.

He submitted that Enitan was taking the witness to the medical terrain whereas medical practitioners would testify at the inquest.

“The witness is not a medical practitioner, a doctor will be in a better person to demonstrate using pictures of the deceased person,” she said.

The inquest has been adjourned till May 15.