The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has maintained that the much-rumoured death of a 12-year-old Student of Dowen College Lekki, Lagos was of natural cause as indicated by a report of medical officials.
According to Odumosu investigation by the police also revealed that there was no bodily tortured leading to his death.
Sylvester Oromoni who died last year was alleged by the Father to have been killed by some other students who he claimed they fed his Son with Chemical substances and subject him to severe torture in a bid to lure him into a cult group.
Following a viral video on social media where the deceased body was seen swollen, the State Ministry of Education quickly sealed the school indefinitely and ordered an investigation into the cause of the Sylvester death.
However, five Students and five staff were arrested in connection to Sylvester’s death, but after investigations and advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), the Lagos State government ordered a released of those accused while clearing them of not being responsible for Sylvester’s death.
Meanwhile, a statement by the school revealed that,
“The autopsy report which is the product of the work of seven of the leading Pathologists in Nigeria, including one representing the Oromoni family from Delta State has shown that Slyvester had several chronic pre-existing health conditions. These health conditions cannot be fabricated or doctored. If there were contributory injuries from any bodily harm they would have been presented and stated.”
While regretting Sylvester’s death the school noted that the longstanding integrity, values and processes the school worked tirelessly to maintain over the past 24 years have been called into question and dragged through the mud.
The school then urged the general public to disregard the misinformation flying around about the school while stating that the school is a “faith-based school with a good academic record and values. Dowen College is a school that thrives on giving back through scholarships. We have over 10 per cent of our students on various scholarships covering 100 per cent full tuition and boarding scholarships. As many students as meet up with merit standard each year enjoy full tuition scholarships. Therefore, rewarding excellence is the focus.”
The school narrated,
“The facts of this unfortunate tragedy remain that: The only injury brought to the notice of the school was the fall while paying football over the weekend as narrated by his friends, roommates and classmates and later investigated by the police; two of the boys mentioned are day students with no connections to the hostel; a third boy mentioned was a regular weekly boarder who went home each weekend for home tutoring. He was not in the hostel over the weekend; Slyvester did not leave with any visible body injuries from the school contrary to what was showcased on social media. Had that been the case we know the guardian would have raised an alarm when he came to pick him up and the parents would have called the school immediately to complain; no issue was raised about his health until seven days after he was collected from school; a follow up call to the family while he was at home revealed his leg was being massaged, nothing else.”
In a press conference Odumosu said, : “Much as we commiserate with the bereaved family on the death of their lovely and promising child, it is advised that individuals or groups who are still aggrieved should go to law court to seek redress instead of taking the law into their own hands.
“Thus members of the public who may have any misgivings about the outcome of the 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 fold their arms and allow any act or omission that could threaten the peace being enjoyed in the state.”
