- Coroner meets Falana
- Mothers hold candlelight
- Reps urge police IG to take over investigation
Police confirmed yesterday that five pupils and three housemasters of Dowen College, Lekki, have been arrested over the death of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr.
Spokesman, Adekunle Ajisebutu, confirmed the development in a statement, adding that investigation was ongoing.
“I can confirm to you that five of the students involved are being held in custody and are helping with investigation. We can’t say too much as regards the case so that we don’t jeopardise investigation but the Lagos Police Command will leave no stone unturned in unraveling the case,” he said.
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The Nation learnt that the three suspects were invited alongside their parents for questioning yesterday, and that Maroko divisional police headquarters and the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, have been directed to take over the case immediately.
Sylvester, 12, who died last Tuesday, is believed to have been bullied and beaten by fellow students who wanted him to join their cult group.
The institution has been shut over the incident.
A mother to one of the students accused of taking part in the assault on Sylvester, said her son, Edward Brown, was innocent.
The woman, Ms Oluchi Sunday, in an online statement, said her son was a day student and could not have been in the hostel on the day and time of the incident.
Parents of Dowen College pupils scheduled a candlelight procession by the school for today in honour of the late Sylvester.
A statement by four parents, Aituaz Kola-Oladejo, Waheed Adeoye, Oluwaseun Bola-Ajila, and Kingsley Kema-Agu called on parents and children with information that could help the investigation to speak up.
The women also called for a change in the school management and hostel teachers, and asked that closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras be installed in the school.
“Dowen College Parents are startled and deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident that led to the death of Sylvester Oromoni. Our hearts go out to the family of the deceased,” they said.
Lagos State Coroner, Justice Mojisola Dada will today hold a preliminary meeting with human rights lawyer Femi Falana, who, barely 24 hours ago, sought an inquest into Sylvester’s death.
The meeting will hold in Epe at 11am.
The House of Representatives asked the Inspector General of Police to take over investigation of the circumstances surrounding Sylvester’s death, as well as that of 14-year-old Keren-Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher of Premier Academy, Lugbe, Abuja and ensure those found culpable are brought to justice.
Keren died in June after a sexual assault.
The lawmaker asked that police should also investigate alleged harassment and threat of Keren’s family and an NGO that took up the girl’s murder.
The House equally urged the Federal Ministry of Education to set out guidelines for the operation of boarding schools across the country, insisting that they should no longer be allowed to operate without guidelines.
The House resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance on the inhuman treatment in boarding schools across the country and the need to carry out comprehensive investigation.
The motion was raised by Rep Unyime Idem.
