Mr Sylvester Oromoni Snr, the father of the late 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Lekki, Sylvester Junior, who died under controversial circumstances after allegedly being bullied and forced to drink a substance, has rejected the judgment of the Coroner Inquest which indicted him, his wife and the family doctor for their son’s death.

He said it was not the end of the case, as the medical expert did not give them a concluding result of the black substance that was found in their son’s stomach.

The Coroner Inquest that looked into the findings of the death of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, had, on Monday, exonerated Dowen College and the five students who were accused of bullying, beating, and forcing the deceased to drink a substance that allegedly caused his death and indicted the deceased’s parents and family doctor of negligence.

Oromoni died on November 30, 2021.

The coroner, Magistrate Mikhail Kadiri, in his judgment at the Ogba Magistrate Court, held that Dowen College, its staff members, and the five students namely, Favour Benjamin, 16; Edward Begue (16); Ansel Temile (14); Kenneth Inyang and Michael Kashamu, 16, son of the late Senator Buruji Kashamu, did not play any role that led to the death of Oromoni.

READ ALSO: Sylvester Oromoni’s Death: Coroner Inquest Releases Report

He cleared the school of any negligence and the five senior students accused of bullying the deceased and administering a poisonous substance to him.

He said, “The alleged suspects played no part in Sylvester’s death but were victims of their past misdeeds. They were falsely accused, and no staff of Dowen College played any role in the death. The school has improved its facilities since the incident.

“The claims of chemical intoxication were never proven, and the faces of those allegedly bullying the deceased weren’t seen. The alleged confession of Sylvester was denied by several witnesses. Even if he was beaten, it didn’t lead to his death.”

He said that the deceased played football on November 20, 2021, and his leg was massaged by his roommates and the school nurse.

Magistrate Kadiri, who conducted the inquest while revealing his findings, said the death was avoidable.

READ ALSO: Sylvester Oromoni’s Death: Coroner Inquest Releases Report

Kadiri, who stopped at intervals to weep about the death of Oromoni, said the teenager‘s death was avoidable and as well as caused by the negligence of the parents and the family doctor, Aghogho Owhojede, who didn’t take him to the hospital until the day he died on November 30, 2021.

The coroner broke down in tears several times while reading his findings and even rose at a point to comport himself, saying the case was touching but needed objectivity.

“The deceased went through an avoidable and excruciating pain and was made to suffer needlessly,” Kadiri said.

The Magistrate, while delivering his findings which lasted for more than six hours, said 32 witnesses testified in the coroner’s inquest which started sitting in January 2022.

Among the evidence the coroner relied on included the findings of two autopsies conducted on the deceased at the Central Hospital, Warri, Delta State, with only the family present, and at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where about 10 pathologists representing various parties including the family, Lagos State Government and Dowen College took part in.

READ ALSO: Sylvester Oromoni’s Death: Coroner Fixes Date To Release Inquest

“He said that the autopsy conducted on December 14, 2021, in the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital by Dr. Sunday Soyemi and the toxicology report of post-mortem samples of the Central Hospital, Warri Delta State conducted by Pathologist Consultant Dr Clement Vhriterhire were in agreement as to the cause of death namely, Septicemia, Lobar Pneumonia with Acute Pyelonephritis, Pyomyositis of the right ankle and Acute Bacteria Pneumonia due to severe Sepsis.

“Death was caused by Septicaemia (a life-threatening health condition caused by a patient’s body’s response to an infection), following infections of the lungs and kidneys arising from the ankle wound,” he said.

According to him, “No evidence of blunt force trauma in this body. The findings in the oesophagus and stomach are not compatible with chemical intoxication. Death, in this case, is natural.”

Dr Sunday Soyemi, who led the Lagos procedure, stated in the autopsy report that sepsis, which led to the death of the boy, could have been treated with “massive doses of intravenous antibiotic, intravenous fluid and blood transfusion”, but which was never done.

From the evidence, Sylvester was said to have sustained an injury on his ankle between November 20 and 21. Following first aid treatment, the school contacted his parents to come and pick him up for further treatment.

READ ALSO: Sylvester Oromoni: Pathologist Reveals Real Cause Of Dowen College Student’s Death

The deceased’s guardian, Mr Clifford Tejere, was sent on November 23, 2021, to the school to pick him up and took him for an X-ray, but no fracture was detected.

The family doctor, Aghogho, was also lambasted for not providing the required duty of care for the patient whose home care treatment was “trivialised”.

“I do not believe the version of the family doctor, Aghogho’s evidence.

“Despite early diagnosis, the doctor (Aghogho), was found to have abandoned the deceased for more than 32 hours and didn’t carry out an X-ray and scan early enough which would have revealed his deteriorating condition,” he said.

The coroner also recommended that parents should not treat their children’s health with levity, as well as ensure better synergy between police and medical teams in such matters.

He also called for proper psychological evaluation for the five students suspected to have bullied the deceased.

READ ALSO: Dowen College: Group Demands Timely Justice As Late Sylvester Oromoni Is Buried

Immediately after the judgment, the deceased’s father in an interview with journalists said the medical expert did not give them a concluding result.

“They said they saw a substance inside the body of the deceased. Was it tested, it wasn’t tested. This is not the end of the case. As far as I am concerned it does not represent a true proceeding of the evidence taken,” he said.

When asked about his next action and if he would appeal the judgment, he said, “Don’t worry, I will consult my lawyer.

“If you send a child to school, a distant school, who is to take care of the child in the school? Is it not the principal and the doctor of the school?

“if you say that it is the doctor after five days that is supposed to take care of the child and that the doctor here and the school principal are exempted, who is the immediate parent of the boy?” he queried.

READ ALSO: Police Arrest Suspected Killers Of Sylvester Oromoni, Dowen College Student

The deceased’s family lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), while reacting to the judgment of the Coroner, stated that it was curious that the coroner ignored the evidence of the government pathologist that the “black substance” found in the stomach of the deceased was not subjected to toxicological examination. The allegation was that the deceased was forced to drink a poisonous substance.

According to him, the acting Director of Public Prosecution of Lagos State at the material time had recommended that some staff and students be prosecuted for criminal negligence over the bullying of students in the school. Four days later, the acting DPP turned around to say that there was no case to answer without any fresh evidence from the police investigators. The coroner ruled that the acting DPP had the power to withdraw her recommendations at any time!

“The doctors who testified stated that the deceased died of sepsis and that the sepsis could have been caused by excessive massaging of the leg of the deceased.

“The coroner conveniently overlooked the fact that the school doctor and the nurses massaged the leg of the deceased for two days before inviting his parents to take him home.

“In an attempt to exonerate Dowen College, the coroner was silent on the overwhelming evidence of the bullying of the deceased, his sister, and other students by the same set of students.

Dowen’s lawyer, Anthony Popo, said what had happened was an unravelling of atupostriry of life and painstaking attention to details by the Coroner, who spent so much time, over 900 pages of records of proceedings and that he produced the truth in line with logic, and in line with science.

“It is unfortunate that innocent young boys almost had their lives irreversibly destroyed because of lies. It is a good thing that we all had the opportunity before the Coroner and the verdict has come strong, exonerated Dowen College of over 23 years and all the Dowen students,” he said.

The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, Olatunji Disu, has been awarded the Commissioner of Police of the Year at the maiden edition of the Nigeria Police Awards and Commendation ceremony held on Monday in Abuja.

Disu was awarded alongside 15 other outstanding police officers based on the recommendations of the Nigeria Police Force Awards Committee headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Bala Ciroma.

The Special Guest of Honour, President Bola Tinubu, was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Also present at the ceremony were the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun; the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lit-Gen. Taoreeh Lagbaja; among others.

READ ALSO: Police Recruitment: Medical Screening For Anambra, Enugu Applicants Begins Tuesday

The maiden edition of the Nigeria Police Awards and Commendations ceremony was held in conjunction with a private entity and stakeholder in the Nigerian security community, Lenders Consult International, to appreciate exemplary police officers.

Speaking at the event, Egbetokun noted that the award has demonstrated the meritorious but guiding principles that should shape the daily actions and decisions of police officers.

Egbetokun said, “Similarly, recognition will be given to discipline officers who diligently carried out investigations and prosecutions.

“Their efforts have brought offenders to justice, delivered closure to victims and reinforced the rule of law, transforming justice from a mere concept into a tangible reality for all.

“It’ll also be presented in 16 distinct categories, including crime posting side by client, community, policy, investigation, gallantry and integrity, communicating with the force.”

The IG noted that the Force “remains vigilant in sanctioning those who have acted unprofessionally or in violation of the code of conduct in the course of their duties.

“The Awards Night serves not only as a platform for celebration but also as a reminder of the importance of accountability and responsibility within law enforcement.”

READ ALSO: Rivers Police Arrest Suspected Cultist For Killing Two

See the full list of the award winners below:

1. CSP Odeyeyiwa Oladimeji – Crime Buster of the Year

2. Grade III Alabi Kayode – Traffic Warden of the Year

3. Corporal Abbey Yetunde – Police Sportsman of the Year

4. CP Muhammed Gumei – Community Policing Advocate of the Year

5. SP Haruna Abdullahi (Kano State PPRO) – Police Public Relations Officer of the Year

6. ACP Dere Olalekan (Medical Officer, Ondo State Command) – Police Medical Personnel of the Year

7. ASP Nnamdi Egbunike – Cyber Crime Buster of the Year

READ ALSO: BREAKING: Rivers Police Kill Gang Leader Who Murdered Rivers CDC Chairman

8. SP Kasumu Oluropo – Investigator of the Year

9. Inspector Onyia Everistus (State Criminal Investigation Department, Enugu Command) – Detective of the Year

10. Patrol Team from 40 PMF (Taraba Command) – Patrol Team of the Year

11. CSP Shaba Aliyu – Divisional Police Officer of the Year

12 ACP Muhammad Musa – Area Commander of the Year

13. ASP Madaki Emmanuel – Police Legal Officer of the Year

14. SP Elaigwu Augustine (Commander, Counter-Insurgency/Joint Operation FOB, Aguata Anambra Command) – Award For Gallantry

15. SP Idris Ibrahim, SP Okoi Iferi (Counter Intelligence Unit) – Award For Integrity

16. CP Olatunji Disu – Commissioner of Police of the Year

Posthumous awards were also given to the families of some deceased police officers.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State on Monday, performed the groundbreaking ceremony of a solar power project to supply 24 hours of electricity at the Nigerian Army Military Hospital in Benin City.

Obaseki, who spoke to journalists after the official inauguration of the project, said the facility will be delivered and commissioned within the next 60 days.

The governor who was represented by his deputy, Omobayo Marvellous Godwins said the government remains committed to proffering a lasting solution to the power problem in the State.

He said, “I had cause to felicitate with my people in Edo North for the Sallah celebration as this is my first official assignment as Deputy Governor of the State. I am grateful to God Almighty for this. This is historic as God has perfected the plan that it will be in a healthcare facility and it means so much to me.

“The Commander while speaking was looking at the running cost of the project. The cost of energy, when reduced, will go a long way to help reduce the running cost in the facility. It will save the cost of diesel and will reduce the burden.

“We have a mortuary, equipment and human resources here at the Military Hospital Benin, and energy (electricity) is required to run 24/7 services. There should not be downtime at all. This project here in this hospital is timely and needs to be approached with all sense of seriousness. I have no doubt at all in my mind that in the next 60 days, we should be close to commissioning this project.”

On extending the project across all councils in the State, the governor noted: “It’s a laudable project and as an administration, we need to sit down with the 18 local government chairmen across the State to see how to positively design such projects so it can be extended across the State.”

He added, “We have a very good plan for the State and have gone more than 70 percent in its execution. I am sure we will finish well as a government.”

On his part, Commissioner for Mining and Energy, Engr. Enaholo Ojiefo noted that the project is a collaborative effort between the Edo State Government and the Military, adding, “The Commander approached us to appeal to the State Government to work and collaborate with them. We see our people coming here, especially the pregnant women, who come for healthcare services. The governor instructed us to ensure we support them with constant electricity.”

The Commissioner continued: “By tomorrow, the team will be here, followed by the panel installation. We are looking at a month plus for the project to be completed and ready. We have one of such project working in Eyaen already. There is a 1MW facility at Aduwawa and this will be another 1MW.”

Earlier, the Director of Military Hospital Benin, Brig. Gen. Pauline Olubunmi Aburime, who identified poor power supply as one of the greatest challenges facing the hospital, said: “We explored all forms to ensure we have constant power supply. We wrote to the Military authority, met with Discos, and interacted with the Edo State Government to see how to prioritize power.

“The state government agreed to kick start a solar project to support us and improve our electricity supply to the hospital which will surely improve our services. I thank the Edo State Government for their proactive response.”