Dowen College: ‘My Son was Hale and Hearty Before School Saga’, Mother

The Mother of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, the late 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Lagos, has informed a Coroner inquest that her late son had no health challenge, before the complaints he made a few days before his death. Mrs Rosemary Oromoni said this while being cross-examined by Counsel to Dowen College, Mr Anthony Kpokpo.

The Coroner, Mr Mikhail Kadiri, had to stand down proceedings two times to enable her to pull herself together, because Mrs Oromoni wept profusely while testifying. According to the witness, she could not take the late student to the hospital on the day he arrived home from school with complaints, a few days before his death.

“I could not take him to the hospital from Friday to Monday, but did so on Tuesday”, she said.

She further told the Coroner that before her son died, she observed that his breathing changed.

Okpokpo asked her whether she had seen the Doctor’s Report, and whether she would be surprised to learn that the Report stated that her late son’s bones were in good condition.

The witness replied in the negative. The family’s lead counsel, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, however, objected to the defence counsel’s question as to whether the witness would be surprised at the Doctor’s Report.

“Mrs Oromoni did not author the Report nor present it as evidence, and should not be made to answer whether she is surprised or not at the Doctor’s Report”, he said.

The counsel representing the School further asked whether she was the one in a video that surfaced on social media, showing a woman holding and supporting the deceased to walk.

She replied: “I was aware of the video and it was shot in my house, but I never instructed anyone to make it.

“I was not the one assisting him in the video, though I was aware of the video but I cannot remember who shot it.

“I do not know how many videos that were shot in my house, on that day.”

While being cross-examined by Mr Nosa Iyamo, counsel to one of the students alleged to have bullied the deceased, Mrs Oromoni said that the said video was made for the School.

All the counsel informed the court, that there were no other witnesses to be called in the inquest.

Kadiri commiserated with the witness and her family on the death of their son, and admitted the statement she made at the Police Station in evidence.

The Coroner directed that all the counsel should file their final written addresses in two weeks.

Kadiri adjourned the case until November 20, for adoption of the final written addresses.

The Coroner had on September 3, invited the Mother of the deceased to give evidence.

Sylvester Oromoni Jnr reportedly died on November 30, 2021, at a private hospital in Warri, Delta State, after alleged health complications at Dowen College, Lagos. The Oromoni family alleged that their son died from injuries he suffered, as a result of bullying by five senior students of the College. They also claimed that, he was not treated by the School in a hospital

The inquest is taking place at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.