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 on mother earth.
The video evidence was tendered while Sylvester Oromoni Senior, father of the deceased, was being led in evidence by complainant counsel, Andrew Efole in the ongoing inquest before the Coroner, Mikhail Kadiri sitting in Ikeja.
Emotions ran high, even as tempers rose as the court audience watched where the late Sylvester writhed in pain as he was brought out of the vehicle that conveyed him home.
From the video clip, the deceased could not stand on his own without being supported, persistently, groaning each time any part of his body was touched by those that assisted in carrying him.
The severity of the pains was also evident when he was being attended to by a radiologist at a medical facility. Even when he was attended to by medical personnel, the severity of the pains continued.
In his testimony, the deceased’s father 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 nor stand unaided. 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 hurting 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 were seeing 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 with the documents before the proceedings.
A Deputy Director, Ministry of Justice, Mr Akin George, told the court that it was the only documents made available to them and that they don’t have the videos and the box sought to be tendered.
He, therefore, submitted that rather than adjourn, the court could maximise time by watching the videos.
The audio of the conversation between Mr Oromoni and the father of a JSS 3 student of Dowen College, another audio discussion of the father of the deceased with a male student which was played before the Coroner, Magistrate Kadiri, adjourned further hearing till Tuesday, 8th February 2022.
Meanwhile, earlier during the proceeding, Mr Efole alleged that O.C legal SCID, Panti, Yetunde Cardoso, has not availed him of the case file as requested.
His submission was corroborated by Mr Kpokpo, who alleged that Mrs Cardoso is not cooperating as desired.
