Coroner’s Inquest into Adebola Akin-Bright’s Death Begins

Wale  Igbintade

The Coroner’s inquest into circumstances surrounding the death of 12-year-old boy, Master Adebola Akin-Bright, whose intestine went missing during surgery in a hospital and later died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) commenced yesterday at Magistrate Court 4, Botanical Gardens, Ebute-Metta, Lagos.

The Coroner Court was under District Coroner, Mrs. Bola Folarin-Williams.

During the proceedings, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa led Mr. Aramide Adeogun and Mr. Ezekiel Nnadi for the father of the deceased, Mr. Olumuyiwa Akin-Bright, being the complainant.

Mrs. Abiodun Kolawole represented the African Women Lawyers Association while Mr. O.A. Akinde, state counsel from the Ministry of Justice represented the Lagos State Government, as an interested party.

When the case was called, Mr. Akinde informed the court that necessary tests and examinations have been conducted on the corpse whereby there is a post-mortem report. 

He stated that the office of the Attorney General is aware of letters from solicitors to the father of the deceased seeking to preserve the corpse while the mother seeks the release of the corpse to her for burial. 

He added that the state is not against any of the requests, as the court may decide.

However, Mr. Adegboruwa informed the Coroner that the complainant would love to call the medical director of Hobitox Medical Centre where the deceased was first admitted and treated, the doctors that treated the deceased in LASUTH and all policemen involved in the investigation in order to have a proper understanding of what actually happened to the deceased.

At this point, the coroner informed parties that she got information that the autopsy report is ready and will soon get to the court, whereupon Adegboruwa applied that it should be made available to all the parties in the case.

The Coroner stated also that it may be necessary for the father and the mother of the deceased to file their respective applications on what to do with the corpse so that the court can rule on it.

Adegboruwa, however, stated that since the deceased died in LASUTH, it may be better to have an independent examination of the corpse by experts such as the Nigerian Medical Association, to avoid likelihood of bias and conflict of interests.

He further informed the Coroner that he became aware just this morning before the court that Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, is the lead counsel to the mother of the deceased. 

Adegboruwa added that he would prefer to liaise with Mr. Falana so that both father and mother can harmonise their viewpoints. 

But in the interim, it is good to preserve the corpse since the Coroner has already assumed jurisdiction over the matter.

Counsel from the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Akinde informed the Coroner that the state is ready to co-operate with and assist the parties by making available all witnesses and documents, including all doctors and medical personnel that attended to the deceased at LASUTH.

After listening to all the parties, the Coroner stated that the inaugural sitting is for preliminary proceedings to set the course for the inquest. 

She asked the parties to meet to harmonise their views and submit the list of the names of witnesses to be called before the next date. 

She directed that the autopsy report and all necessary documents be made available to counsel to the parties.

The case was adjourned to 24th November 2023, for further proceedings.