The father of the late student of Dowen College, Lagos, Sylvester Oromoni jnr. has again alleged a cover up in the coroner’s findings regarding the cause of his son’s death.

In a five-page statement personally signed by him and made available to Channels Television, Sylvester Oromoni Snr said that the Coroner, Magistrate Mikhail Kadiri, who inquired into the cause of his son’s death deliberately delayed his findings so as to cover up the cause of the tragic death.

He said, “The coroner, Magistrate Mikhail Kadiri commenced hearing on 21st day of January 2022 and concluded on the 9th day of October, 2023 after calling 32 witnesses. The coroner delivered his verdict on the 15th day of April, 2024, after two years.

“During the reading of the verdict of 325 pages, the Coroner shed crocodile tears not less than seven times in open court. In fact, he had to rise twice and retired into his chambers to cry more than the bereaved. The coroner claimed that my son died of natural cause. The Coroner deliberately delayed the case in order to cover up the cause of the tragic death of my son as I will explain below”.

Mr Oromoni said this “dubious verdict” will not discourage him from pursuing justice especially to ensure that all other students in Dowen College and other schools do not suffer the same fate his late son did.

While narrating what happened at the inquest, Mr Oromoni disclosed that despite the request of his legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, for a visit to Dowen College to enable the Coroner to ascertain the state of the school before the death of his son, it took the Coroner about 17 months to finally carry out the visit, ostensibly to give the management enough time to fix up the physical deficiencies in the school.

“In his desperate bid to exonerate Dowen College of any liability, the Coroner turned round in his verdict to applaud the authorities of the school for upgrading the facilities during the proceedings,” Oromoni Senior stated.

He also accused the Coroner of suppressing material facts of the bullying of his son by a clique of students, in order to further exonerate the management of Dowen College of any liability.

Mr Oromoni noted that though the coroner proceeded to blame the cause of death on “parental negligence”, it is on record that no witness indicted him as he took all steps recommended by the family doctor to save the life of his son.

In rejecting what he called “the wicked and heartless conclusion of the Coroner”, Mr Oromoni detailed areas in the Coroner’s findings where he alleged vital evidences were suppressed as well as the alleged negligence of Dowen College which led to his son’s death.

He also narrated how his son was allegedly killed as well as the role of the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution which gave two contradictory legal opinions, one recommending the prosecution of Dowen College and another exonerating the school and its management even in the absence of fresh proof to back same.

In his conclusion, Mr Oromoni Snr recommended further investigation of the matter in the interest of justice.

While thanking the good people of Nigeria who stood by the family, Oromoni Senior also called on the Lagos State Government to investigate several cases of bullying in Dowen College.

He said, “Since the coroner decided to cover up the killers of my son, we shall take appropriate actions to unravel the mystery surrounding his death. Finally, I am compelled to call on the Lagos State Government to take urgent steps to investigate the several cases of bullying of students in Dowen College. The students and management staff involved in inflicting torture on helpless students in the school should be brought to book without any delay”.

Mhurfhy:
It is difficult to get justice in Nigeria especially when you don't have the connections.. I pray he gets justice for his son.

peekspot:


https://www.channelstv.com/2024/05/06/sylvester-oromonis-father-challenges-coroners-findings-alleges-cover-up/

StOla:
We reject scientific evidence and hold on to hearsay in this part of the world.

I sympathise with the family, but their claims were always outlandish at best, while also failing in their own duties to give the boy the prompt medical care he required after he returned from the school.

GlorifiedTunde:
This case is still on?

Every parent needs to find closure after losing a son in this manner

yewit37486:
Sad

I certainly don't trust these "rich" schools. They are out to protect their reputation at any cost. That was how Chrisland hired a SAN to defend the teacher who sexually molested a 2 year old.

Any parent covering up for their child when they do wrong will eventually be consumed by the greater evil that child will commit in future. It's a question of time.

kingthreat:


The chrisland case of the 2-year old girl is a very dicey case. The teacher, a 47-year old man at that time has been sentenced to decades imprisonment. The man's life has been destroyed based on an accusation which may be true or untrue. I don't know but I dont see how a father of 2 girls will sexually abuse a 2 year old girl. If he's guilty let him serve his term and if innocent, let him be exonerated.
As for the Dowen college case, it is good that the lives of those 4 boys were not destroyed too. We have to be 💯 sure before making a strong accusation of murder and poisoning on Teenagers.
At this time, i think it is time to hand the case over to God.
May we never be falsely accused, the Nigerian system and social media will find you guilty.

Digmygold:


And what prompt medical care did the School (responsible for his welfare whilst school was on) give him before he left for his home?

yewit37486:


In this same world and country where fathers molest their own children.
Read through the details of the case involving, and then ask yourself how all that could be false accusation. Mind you, 2 other parents had accused this man in the past but it was silenced. Secondly, why did the school ask the parents of the 2 year old "what they can do to end the case"? I can go on and on, all I will say is please read the details.
God is not a God of injustice and when we refuse to seek justice when we can, it is actually an act of injustice.

seborrhic:
He should just shut up,accusing everyone but himself of culpability in his son's death.
You took your son to a church then invited a doctor as a "bigman" to come treat him while all the while the boy was deteriorating in health.
I know how some of these so called bigmen and well to do,but poorly enlightened people behave;they invite a nurse or doctor at home,for what they perceive are simple ailments,tell him or her to treat for,most commonly "malaria and typhoid".
Doctor let's "use drip"it's been long he treated for malaria or "maybe the last malaria drug he used was even fake","he just came back from school with all those kinds of foods they give them there,doctor flush his system with drip and give him strong antibiotics".
You would be surprised at what some of these people do,but when things go south,they turn around to accuse others of culpability,even including the doctor they were suggesting diagnosis and treatment plans for.

kingthreat:


I followed the case. No 2 other parents accused the man of such in the past. Maybe it happened in the media story. Also, the 2-year old had only one active parent - a single mother. I have read the details. You should read the man's part of the story too.
God is a God of justice yes. But in this world there is lots of injustice going on that justice will be brought to. Justice can take a minute, a day, years or even centuries. But it will happen. Or you want to tell me that everybody serving a jail term is 100% culpable?
Like I said if he is guilty, let him serve his term.

yewit37486:


I read that in the papers when the mother was interviewed, she mentioned they were 3 parents initially bringing forward the case and the two withdrew. And how does her being a single mother have any bearing to the case? I read ALL the details including the man's part and how he told the mother that nothing would happen.
He is a despicable sick human being that is better off in jail.
No one is debating that injustice exists, however in this case the evidence was strongly against him, so calling his conviction an injustice is itself an injustice.

kingthreat:


I say it again, if guilty let him serve his term.