A law firm, Falana & Falana’s Chambers, has asked the Lagos State Police Command to invite blogger and social media personality, Kemi Olunloyo, to explain a “reckless allegation” she made against the late 12-year-old student of Dowen College, Sylvester Oromoni.
The solicitors to the family of the late student accused Olunloyo of attempting to destroy the name of Sylvester on social media by claiming that the late student wanted to join a cult group in the Lekki-based school and had agreed to being beaten.
This was contained in a letter on Monday signed by Taiwo Olawanle of Falana & Falana’s Chambers. It was titled, ‘Request For Investigation Of The Allegation Made By Ms Kemi Olunloyo On The Tragic Death Of Sylvester Oromoni At Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos.’
The law firm owned by renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), therefore, urged the Deputy Commissioner of Police at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Lagos, to invite the blogger for questioning.
“Although the students and staff of the College suspected to have played a role in the brutal murder of Sylvester Oromini have made useful statements to the Police. One Ms Kemi Olunloyo has just introduced another twist to the incident,” the law firm stated.
The letter further read, “According to a false statement credited to her, Ms Olunloyo claimed that ‘Sylvester Oromoni wanted to join the cult, he agreed to be beaten and drank Engine oil as part of the initiation process.’
“Ms Olunloyo recorded her false statement and has been circulating the same on social media in a wicked manner with the sole purpose of diverting attention from the ongoing investigation by the Police.
“Apart from attempting to destroy the name of Sylvester Oromoni, Ms Olunloyo has exacerbated the tragedy of his parents, family members and friends without any justification whatsoever.
“Even though the reckless statement is a figment of the imagination of Ms Olunloyo, we are of the strong view that she ought to assist the Police in the ongoing investigation into the cause of the death of Sylvester Oromoni.
“We are therefore compelled to request the Police to investigate the allegation of false information being circulated by Ms Olunloyo on the gruesome circumstances surrounding the death of Sylvester Oromoni.
“If she cannot substantiate her reckless allegation, Ms Olunloyo ought to be charged with false information in the Magistrate Court in Lagos State.”
It can be recalled that the father of the deceased boarding student alleged that the Junior Secondary School 2 pupil died from the injuries sustained during an assault by five of his colleagues who wanted to initiate him into cultism but the school claimed he died after sustaining an injury during a football match.
The family had since demanded a coroner inquest into his death while the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had said that some students have been arrested for the alleged assault.
Sylvester’s is one of the harrowing deaths resulting from bullying and molestations in boarding secondary schools of late.
Karen-Happuch Akpagher of Premiere Academy, Lugbe, Abuja, had died of sexual molestation in June 2021 while Don Davies of Deeper Life High School, Uyo, had also narrowly escaped death in December 2020, when his mother raised the alarm of alleged sodomy of her emaciated son.
