A group seeking justice for the deceased JSS II student of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, Sylvester Oromoni, Justice for Sylvester Oromoni Committee (JSOC), has demanded that the result of the Coroner Inquest into the cause of his death be made public
Oromoni Jnr. died on November 30, 2021, four days to his 12th year birthday from an alleged torture and administration of a poisonous substance that was forced down his throat by some identified senior students of the college.
Following controversies trailing the circumstances surrounding Oromoni’s death, the Lagos State Government set up a Coroner Inquest to investigate the cause of the pupil, but several months after the committee completed their assignment.
According to the group, all concerned parties were represented at the inquest. Femi Falana (SAN), Efole, Bimpe Ajegbomogun, Mrs. B.A Bekeyei-Alaki, T.E Olawanle, Victor Chukwuma and A.A Oniyelu Ayo Aribisala represented the late Oromoni family, while A.A George led the counsel for state.
Also, at the Coroner’s inquest, Anthony Kpokpo and Daniel Effiong represented Dowen College, while Izechukwu Ohajwuan and Nosa Iyamu represented one of the pupils, Ansel Temile
Ayi Ekpenyong and Okoi.O represented Benjamin Favour, and Chigozie Emenike, Imabong Uye and Jessica Oyeyipo represented Micheal Kashamu.
The group said it was unacceptable for the findings and recommendation of the inquest to be swept under the carpet months after the committee had completed and forwarded its findings to the Lagos State Government.
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It appealed to the Lagos State Government, the judiciary and other well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on members of the Coroner to immediately make its findings and recommendations available to the public in the interest of justice for their late son.
Making its stand known in a statement by its Coordinator, Elder Regent Youmor, the body said it has become very necessary for the Coroner to immediately declare its findings in order for the parties involved to be able to take their next line of action in ensuring that justice prevails.
It said: “It’s unthinkable to see that a Coroner Inquest that is usually set up with a specific terms of reference and a short time frame to accomplish its findings and submit its findings to enable parties involved take the next line of action open to them in any particular case is now the one foot dragging to make report public”.
“From our little experience of how Coroner Inquest works, the members are allowed to sit even on Sundays, in order to be able to meet up with the specified time frame it’s being given but, in the case, we have an Inquest that adjourns for two months, come back to sit briefly again and then take another three months adjournment for no good reasons”.
“It is based on this, that we the concerned Ijaw indigenes both at home and in the diaspora are calling on both the federal and Lagos state governments, the judiciary, as well as well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the Coroner Inquest to make public its findings so that the family can proceed with its next line of action.”