By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Those suspected to have been involved in the death of a 12-year student of Dowen College, Lagos, Sylvester Oromoni, have been cleared, Channels Television is reporting.
Last year, the death of the student sparked angry reactions when the video of his last moment surfaced online. Five students of the school were alleged to have tortured him to death because of his refusal to join their group.
The state government waded into the case and ordered the shutting down of the institution. An autopsy was conducted and according to reports, the deceased died of septicaemia, lobar pneumonia with acute pyelonephritis, pyomyositis of the right ankle and acute bacterial pneumonia due to severe sepsis.
In a report on Wednesday, Channels TV claimed a document it sighted stated that the state suspects have been cleared following the legal advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ms Adetutu Oshinusi.
It was said that the findings indicated that there is no prima facie case of murder, involuntary manslaughter and or malicious administering of poison with intent to harm against the five students, Favour Benjamin aged 16, Micheal Kashamu (15), Edward Begue (16), Ansel Temile (14) and Kenneth Inyang (15).
“From available facts in the duplicate case file, the investigation carried out by the Police did not reveal that any secret society name, tattoo or insignia of any unlawful society was found in the possession of any of the suspects during the investigation carried out by the Police.
“To hold otherwise would amount to sniffing for an offence and a speculative act which is not permitted in law. It is trite law that suspicion no matter how grave cannot be a ground for conviction,” a part of the note addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and the trial magistrate, Magistrate Olatunbosun Adeola, reportedly stated.
It was further stressed that the result of the toxicology is not indicative of any toxic or poisonous substance in the body of the deceased and because of this, the school and five of its employees: Celina Uduak, Valentine Igboekweze, Hammed Ayomo Bariyu, Adesanya Olusesan Olusegun and one Adeyemi were cleared of the offence of negligent act causing harm contrary to section 252 of the Criminal Law Ch. C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State 2015.
Consequently, the Lagos State government has directed that all the suspects should be released if they are still in custody.
