Dowen College: Oromoni family alleges cover-up, seeks justice

Late Sylvester Oromoni

The family of the late Sylvester Oromoni (Jnr), has decried the legal advice reportedly issued by the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), Lagos, over the death of their son.

The 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni, a student of Dowen College, Lagos died on November 30, 2021, after he was allegedly bullied and tortured by five senior students.

His father had claimed that Sylvester was beaten and fed a liquid chemical by his schoolmates but the college dismissed the claim.

The school management, however, claimed the boy sustained injuries while playing football with his colleagues.

According to the legal advice dated January 4, the interim and final autopsy reports issued by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and toxicology report of post mortem samples and that of the Central Hospital, Warri in Delta State were in agreement as to the cause of death namely: Septicaemia, Lobar Pneumonia with Acute Pyelonephritis, Pyomyositis of the right ankle and Acute Bacteria Pneumonia due to severe Sepsis.

Mr. Sylvester Oromoni, father of Oromoni Junior, in a statement made available to newsmen in Asaba, called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector-General of Police, civil society organisations and international bodies to wade in and ensure that justice was served.

He said that the family had resorted to engaging the services of lawyers, led by Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) to get justice for the deceased.

He said: “My attention has been drawn to the legal advice, dated January 4, on the untimely and brutal death of my beloved son, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr. who died on November 30, 2021.

“I am appalled by the said legal advice being circulated on social media, as a copy was not obliged to us despite several request for same,” he said.

Oromoni expressed dismay at what he described as “gang up” by concerned authorities against the “innocent boy who died as a result of negligence by the management of Dowen College and the release of the five suspects when the police have not concluded investigations.

“Be that as it may, I am not surprised with the content of the said legal advice.

“This is because the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, had, on December 31, 2021, said before the governor, the Attorney-General and the DPP that investigation had been concluded and that those arrested in connection with the murder had no case to answer.

“It may interest you to know that the suspects were ordered to be remanded by the police for 21 days to have proper investigation by the same Magistrate Court in Lagos which granted the five suspects bail,” he said.

Oromoni added that there was a clear oral statement from his son before he died and his schoolmates that he was tortured and given an unknown substance, suspected to be poison, which led to his death.

“The management of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, has always claimed that my late son sustained injury while playing football.

“All the evidence gathered has shown that this is not the true story but a way to cover up their negligence.

“Based on the outcome of the autopsy report which contradicts the story of Dowen College, it is my firm belief that there is a conspiracy among the officials,” he said.

Oromoni, therefore, called on the president, the IGP, Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, CSOs, international human rights group and the general public to help him get justice, as the turn of events had shown that justice was being tempered with.

He said that he had instructed his team of lawyers, led by Falana, to take all necessary steps within the purview of the law to get justice for his late son.

TheStar