Late Sylvester Oromoni Jnr
Sylvester Oromoni Jr: Lagos Govt redeploys DPP Oshinusi over advice to clear suspects of murder charges
Lagos Government has redeployed the Director of Public Prosecution, Ms Adetutu Oshinusi, who advised it to release all suspects held in connection with the controversial death of 12-year-old student of the Dowen College, Lekki.
The advice by Ms Adetutu Oshinusi, as contained in her report to the state government subsequently ordered the release of all the five students and staff of the college previously held in connection with the shocking death of Sylvester.
Oshinusi had in her recommendation to the police on the matter on Tuesday called for the release of the Dowen staff and students suspected to have a hand in circumstances leading to the death of Oromoni, insisting that autopsy result showed that the victim died of infection and not as a result of being physically tortured as claimed by family members.
The legal advice addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of State Criminal Investigation Department and Chief Magistrate Olatunbosun Adeola, stated that the interim and final autopsy reports issued by the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and toxicology report of post-mortem samples established the cause of death as Septicaemia, Lobar Pneumonia with Acute Pyelonephritis, Pyomyositis of the right ankle and Acute Bacteria Pneumonia due to severe Sepsis.
Oshinusi stated further that based on the findings; there was no prima facie case of murder, involuntary manslaughter and or malicious administering of poison with intent to harm against the suspects including Favour Benjamin (16), Micheal Kashamu (15), Edward Begue (16), Ansel Temile (14) and Kenneth Inyang (15).
“To hold otherwise would amount to sniffing for an offence and a speculative act which is not permitted in law. It is trite law that suspicion no matter how grave cannot be a ground for conviction,” part of the advice read.
While the parents of the deceased student claim their son died from bullying by fellow students of the school, the management of Dowen College dismissed it as ‘social media report,’ as it insists that Sylvester died from external injuries sustained while playing football.
However, following the backlash which has trailed the advice and release of the suspects, the Lagos Government has now moved Oshinusi from State Ministry of Justice to the Directorate of Citizens Rights.
A new Director of Public Prosecution has since been named. He is Dr Babajide Martins, who was Head, Office of the Public Defender, in a development conveyed via a memo signed by Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the state, Ms Titilayo Shitta-Bey, Thursday.
