Late Sylvester Oromoni: No evidence of torture, bullying, poisoning, says Commissioner Police

He warned that the Police would not fold their hands and allow any act of omission that would threaten the peace in Lagos State 

Besides, Odumosu, maintained that the command on its part had concluded the investigation into the death of the 12 -year old Junior Secondary School 2 student and found the three Housemasters and five students earlier arrested in connection with his death, not culpable of the allegation of murder. 

Briefing journalists on the update of the command’s investigation, Odumosu, disclosed that the Command’s findings and the second autopsy revealed “marked pallour of organs, pneumonia (infection of the lungs), infection of the liver and kidney as well as the heart. These infections emanated from the ankle infection described earlier in the report. 

“Microscopic section also confirmed these findings: death was caused by septicaemia, following infections of the lungs and kidneys arising from the ankle wound. Death was caused by Septicaemia, following infections of the lungs, and kidney, arising from the ankle wound. 

“No evidence of blunt false trauma in his body. The findings in the oesophagus and stomach are not compatible with chemical intoxication. Death in this case is natural. 

Despite these and the following legal proceedings, the case file was duplicated and sent to the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP for legal advice. 

Legal advice however indicated that there is no prima facie case of murder, involuntary manslaughter and/or malicious administering of poison with the intent of harm against the students and house masters. Hence they can not be prosecuted. They were all released on bail,” he stated.

Giving a detailed account of how the investigation started, he recalled that a formal complaint was received on December 2, 2021, via a petition by V. O Grant & Co, and signed by A.E Afole et Al, and dated December 1, 2021.

He explained that “The DPO Maroko was immediately directed to carry out a preliminary investigation into the incident, notwithstanding that the incident was not reported at any police station.

The same day the petition was received, DPO Maroko commenced preliminary investigation by visiting Dowen College on a fact-finding mission. However, due to the seriousness of the incident and the dire need to carry out diligent investigations, the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, was directed by me to take over the investigation of the case with immediate effect. 

In compliance with this directive, the SCID Panti took over the case on December 10, 2021, and continued investigation in earnest.

“In the course of the investigation, eight suspects were arrested. They included three housemasters of the college and five students who were said to have been mentioned by the deceased before his death.

The suspects were: Ansel Temile, 14; Michael Kashamu, 15; Kenneth Inyang, 15; Favour Benjamin, 16 and Edward Begue, 16, while the housemasters were: Valentine Igbokwe, 45; Ahmed Bariyu, 52 and Adesaya Olusegun, 42.

A remand warrant dated December 7, 2021, was obtained at the Yaba Magistrate Court  to enable the police to detain the suspects for 21 days, in the first instance while the investigation continued 

“On December 9, 2021, all the parties, including the deceased family, the school management and witnesses, were interviewed by me at the Command headquarters, Ikeja.

During the open interview, it was unanimously agreed that another autopsy should be carried out where pathologists from all parties will be present. The investigation was extended to Delta State and Abuja. 

I will like to state here that the investigation revealed that the same case was reported at the Area Command, Warri, Delta State, on December 1, 2021. It has also been established that a postmortem examination was initially carried out on December 2, 2021, by a consultant pathologist, Dr Clement Vhriterhire, of the Central Hospital, Warri, Delta.

The result of the first autopsy dated December 10, 2021, attributed the cause of death to acute lungs 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 Corona Magistrate in Lagos because of the status of jurisdiction. 

The corpse was, therefore, moved with an armed police escort from Delta State to Lagos State by TOS funeral and the autopsy conducted at the expense of the Lagos State Government.

The second autopsy was carried out at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital on December 14, 2021, in the presence of representatives of all the parties involved in the case. 

The autopsy was carried out by Dr S. S Soyemi, the Consultant Pathologist and Chief Examiner, Department of Pathology and Forensic Sciences, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Ikeja.

The autopsy was witnessed by the following persons: Dr Uwon Eze, Consultant Pathologist, from UCH, who represented  Timiles family; Dr Badmus Kabiru, Consultant Pathologist from LUTH ,represented Dowen College; Dr Nigwe Chikodili Isabila, Consultant Pathologist from Military Hospital, Yaba, represented Edward Brown, a student of Dowen College; Dr Clement Vhriterhire, Consultant Pathologist who performed the first autopsy, represented family of the deceased; Dr Musa Stephen Itopa, Consultant Pathologist, from UBTH, represented Kashamu Michael, a student of Dowen College; Dr F. E Emiogun, Consultant Pathologist in LASUTH; Dr O. O Kilauvie- Emegbo, Consultant Pathologist, LASUTh; Dr O.O Onayemi, Senior Registra in LASUTH; Dr N. Salisu, Senior Registra in autopsy posting in LASUTECH, Dr AC China, Registra from ABU, from autopsy posting in LASUTH; Dr. F. Emetomah, Registra, CSP Rasaq  Oseni, from the Homicide section, represented the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command; DSP Olusegun Bamidele, also from the Homicide section, represented the Nigeria Police Force, LAGOS State Command, Sergeant Shola Adeniyi, Homicide section also represented the Lagos State Police Command.

“Before the expiration of 21 days remand order, families of the students applied for their bail at Magistrate Court 1, Yaba. The application was approved, hence the students who were earlier remanded at Boys Home, Oregun, were granted bail. 

The House Masters were also granted bail after the expiration of the 21 days remand order.

“The result of the second autopsy carried out in Lagos which was released on December 21, 2021, attributed the cause of death to septicaemia, lobar pneumonia with acute pyelonephritis and pyomyositis of the right angle.

On December 30, 2021, the Toxicology screening result of the first autopsy carried in Warri was released. The result issued and signed by Dr Clement Vhriterhire, the same Doctor who carried out the initial autopsy, attributed the cause of death to acute bacteria, pneumonia due to severe sepsis.

At the end of the diligent investigation carried out so far, there is no evidence to establish a case of torture, bullying and forceful application of poisonous substances against the suspects. All the suspects denied the allegations of torture, bullying and administering of poisonous substances to the deceased. The allegation that the deceased was being forced to join a cult group was also not established, as other students interviewed denied this. 

The final result of the postmortem and Toxicology examination conducted both at Warri and Lagos, agreed that the deceased died a natural death. 

“In spite of the transparent investigation carried out by the Police and the non-establishment of prima facie case against the suspects, some members of the Ijaw Youths Council, Lagos, led by Comrade Henry Oyobolo, protested in front of DOWEN college for over two hours on January 6, 2022.

“The protesters, including masquerades carried placards and were drumming, thereby causing panic and apprehension. As much as we commiserate with the bereaved family on the death of their lovely and promising child, it is advised that the protesters and other individuals or groups, who are still aggrieved, should go to the law court to seek redress, instead of taking laws into their own hands. 

“Members of the public who may have any misgivings about the outcome of Police investigation, medical enquiry and legal advice with this case, are advised to follow due process in law, rather than resorting to self-help. The Police will not tell their hands and allow any act of omission that could threaten the peace being enjoined in the state.