Olabisi Fajana, the coroner presiding over an inquest to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Whitney Adeniran, a student of Chrisland Schools, Lagos, has warned against delay in the proceedings.

Ms Fajana told parties in the suit to refrain from any actions that could prolong the inquest.

She told them to consider the late student’s family and other witnesses.

The 12-year-old student reportedly slumped and died during the school’s inter-house sports at the Agege Stadium on February 9.

“We must work within a timeframe and not drag the case,” she said.

Ms Fajana’s warning followed a prayer for adjournment by counsel to Chrisland Schools, Bolaji Ayorinde.

Mr Ayorinde prayed for another date to continue the cross-examination of the deceased’s father, Michael Adeniran, the second witness in the inquest.

Objecting to the request, counsel to the Adeniran family, Joseph Iriah, reminded the court that the case was adjourned from April 17 at the instance of Mr Ayorinde.

Lagos State counsel, A.A. George, also submitted that he desired advancement of the inquest.

Before he requested an adjournment, Mr Ayorinde asked Mr Adeniran if he knew that his daughter suffered anxiety and shortness of breath.

Mr Ayorinde asked, “According to the doctor’s report dated February 15, are you aware that the drugs prescribed (Nitrazepam 5mg and Amitriptyline 12.5mg) are for anxiety and clinical depression?”

He also asked if the witness was aware of some of the side effects of the drugs, which he listed to include numbness and dizziness, then bluish and blackish lips (from Nitrazepam usage).

Mr Ayorinde also asked if the witness did any investigation to ascertain if the stadium was safe to hold inter-house sports.

The witness answered negatively, adding that he expected the school to have found out whether the stadium was safe.

Mr Adeniran then recounted what happened on January 20, before the student’s death, saying the school had informed the family that the student needed medical attention.

He told the court that young Adeniran was taken to Inland Hospital, where doctors prescribed some drugs.

Mr Adeniran told the court that he was unaware of the functions of the drugs prescribed by the doctor because he was not a medical professional.

He further testified that he took the student to the hospital as a father’s responsibility to rule out any serious health issue, not because she was seriously ill.

The coroner adjourned the matter until Tuesday for further cross-examination of Mr Adeniran.

On February 13, the Lagos State government ordered a coroner’s inquest into the cause of the student’s death. 

(NAN)