By Oluwatope Lawanson
The Coroner Inquest set up to unravel the circumstances leading to the death of a student of Dowen College, Sylvester Oromoni Junior, has admitted in evidence video clips containing the deceased’s final moments.
The video evidence was tendered while Sylvester Oromoni Senior, father of the deceased, testified in an ongoing inquest before the Coroner, Mikhail Kadiri sitting in Ikeja.
Emotions were high, and tempers rose as the people in court watched the video where the late Sylvester writhed in pain as he was brought out of the vehicle that brought him home.
In his testimony, the deceased’s father, led by counsel to the family, Mr Andrew Efole, narrated how he called his late son’s schoolmate, who stayed in the same hostel with him.
Mr Efole, after that, tendered a USB drive containing two audio conversations of Mr Oromoni with the schoolmate, a video clip and various documents, which were tendered and admitted as exhibits.
In the video, he could neither walk by himself nor stand. He was writhing in pain as he was carried like a baby, supported by two people. Later in the video, he was shown wearing only yellow briefs. He cried out as he was touched, saying, “I am serious, it’s paining me, don’t touch me.
Before the video was played, Mr Godwin Omoaka (SAN), who represented one of the accused students, told the court that they saw the documents for the first time.
Also, the counsel representing the school, Mr Anthony Kpokpo, told the court that Mr Efole ought to have furnished the other side the documents before the proceedings.
So also, Deputy Director, Ministry of Justice, Mr Akin George, told the court that it’s only the documents made available, but they don’t have the videos and the box sought to be tendered.
He, therefore, submitted that rather than adjourn, the court should get value by watching the videos.
The audio of the conversation between Mr Oromoni and
father of a JSS 3 student of Dowen College, another audio discussion of the deceased father with a male student was played before the Coroner, Magistrate Kadiri, adjourned further hearing till Tuesday, February 8, 2022.
Meanwhile, earlier during the proceeding, Mr Efole alleged that O.C legal SCID, Panti, Yetunde Cardoso, did not give them the file as requested.
His submission was corroborated by Mr Kpokpo, who said she is a stumbling block.
Therefore, the state counsel told the court that their two witnesses were ready to give evidence.
