Four staff members of Chrisland School in Ikeja, Lagos were earlier today admitted to bail by an Ikeja High Court, over their purported alleged involuntary manslaughter of a 12-year-old student, Whitney Adeniran.
Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao, and Nwatu Victoria were charged by the Lagos State Government with involuntary manslaughter of a Chrisland student and reckless careless acts, to which they pleaded not guilty.
Following a move by the defence counsel for bail dated March 28 and March 29 respectively, Justice Oyindamola Ogala admitted the defendants to bail, as there wasn’t any objection from the prosecution, led by Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
The defence counsel were Mrs. Bimpe Ajegbomojon (first defendant), Richard Ahonarougho (SAN) second defendant), Olukayode Enitan, SAN, ( third defendant), Ademola Animashaun (fourth defendant), and Mr Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, (fifth defendant) while Mrs. Oluwatodimu Ige held brief for the family of the deceased.
The Judge admitted the first and second defendants to N10 million bail each, and the third and the fourth defendants to N20 million bail each, with two sureties each in like sum.
The judge said all the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, be gainfully employed, have reliable and confirmed evidence of financial status, submit their international passports with the Chief registrar of the state high court, and must have two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The court, however, ordered that for the defendants to be released, the defence counsel must write an undertaking before the perfection of their bail.
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The defence counsel urged the court to grant bail to the defendants on self-recognizance.
Recall, that the charge evidence signed on March 24 by Dr. Babajide Martins, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), stated that the defendants supposedly committed the offence on Feb. 9, about 1. 00 p.m. in Agege Sports Stadium, Agege, Lagos.
The prosecution submitted that the defendants acted in a reckless and negligent manner which resulted in the negligent murder of Adeniran, a Christland student by not ensuring her safety which contravenes sections 224 and 251 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The prosecution additionally told the court that 17 witnesses will be presented against the defendants by the state and further pleaded for a date to open the trial.