Sylvester Oromoni: Court In Crisis As Defence, Prosecution Clash Over Evidence,

Sylvester Oromoni: Court In Crisis As Defence, Prosecution Clash Over Evidence

by Victor Ndubuisi
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The testimony of late Sylvester Oromoni (Junior), a student of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos State, who died under suspicious circumstances, has been postponed to February 14 due to the prosecution’s failure to serve the papers sought to be given as evidence at the inquest.

Following the defence counsel’s contention that the prosecution neglected to serve them with the papers, Magistrate Mikhail Kadiri delayed hearings.

Sylvester’s death became viral after his cousin, Perry Oromoni, said on social media that some older students at the college beat him up in his hostel because he refused to join a cult.

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However, the school refuted the accusation, claiming that the youngster complained of leg discomfort as a result of an injury acquired while playing football.

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A coroner’s inquest was held to investigate the circumstances of the death.

When Sylvester’s sister, Amanda, wished to speak at the coroner’s inquest on Monday, media and other members of the public were prohibited from the proceedings.

Bernard Oniga, counsel for the Nigerian Bar Association, addressed the issue of the Lagos State Child Rights Law about the minor’s evidence in open court.

“This has been a very sensationalized story. Any minor who desires to come before it must be given some privacy because she still has a future,” he noted.

Following that, Magistrate Kadiri directed journalists and members of the public to leave the courtroom.

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Sylvester’s father was sworn in to testify before the inquiry following the evidence of the deceased’s sister.

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However, when the family’s lawyer, Andrew Efole, notified the court of the papers he intended to offer in Oromoni’s senior’s evidence-in-chief, the defence counsel objected on the grounds that they were not aware of the materials.

Efole stated in court that he was unable to serve the other parties because the officer in charge of the police legal section failed to give him with the appropriate documentation on time.

Godwin Omoaka (SAN), counsel for one of the five students, responded, “We are now viewing these papers for the first time; the defense counsel had them and did not deliver them to us.”
He has videos to offer via this witness as well, but we have not had the opportunity to see them.

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“It’s important that we see and watch this footage because otherwise we won’t be able to cross-examine the witness.” While we do not object to their inclusion, we request that the video be shown in public before we begin with the witness.”

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In response, Dowen College’s attorney, Anthony Kokpo, agreed with the counsel who requested that the video be aired in court.

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In response, Dowen College’s attorney, Anthony Kokpo, agreed with the counsel who requested that the video be aired in court.

Akin George, counsel for the Lagos State Government, stated that the documents had been made available earlier by the ministry.

Following the counsel’s arguments, Magistrate Kadiri adjourned the case until February 14 to hear the deceased’s father’s testimony.

He further ordered the family’s lawyer to serve the necessary documents on the other parties and adjourned the proceedings till Tuesday for the testimony of the pathologist.

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A flash drive containing an audio conversation between him and the father of one Afolabi, a Junior Secondary Student at Dowen College, and another audio conversation with Afolabi, who confirmed that the deceased was bullied because he heard him shouting and no one was there to help, were among the pieces of evidence sought by the family’s lawyer.

On Tuesday, November 23, 2021, our correspondent watched the victim being taken away from the school on the arm of his brother’s buddy in the courtroom footage.

Another video showed Sylvester being carried by two persons at the laboratory while he groaned in pain following an X-ray.

His school box, which was purportedly broken at school, was also handed to the court as evidence.

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Dowen College Releases Second Statement On Sylvester Oromoni’s Death

As he saw the footage of his son writhing in anguish, the deceased’s father broke down in tears.

 

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