Sylvester Oromoni was not bullied to death, Odumosu states.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu has said there is no evidence to establish that 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni (Junior), a pupil of the Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, was forced to join cult or bullied to death.
The CP stated this at a press conference on Friday while giving update on the investigation into the cause of the death of the late student.
He however stated that a Coroner Inquest would still be carried out on the cause of the death of the student.
Odumosu said, “At the end of diligent investigation carried out so far, there is no evidence to establish a case of torture, bullying and forceful application of poisonous substance against the suspects. All the suspects denied the allegations of torture, bullying and administering of poisonous substance to the deceased. Allegation that the deceased was being forced to join a cult group was also not established as other students interviewed denied this.”
Continuing, the Lagos CP said, “In spite of the transparent investigation carried out by the police and the non-establishment of prima facie case against the suspects, some members of the Ijaw Youths Council, Lagos led by one Comrade Henry Oyobolo protested in front of Dowen College for over two hours yesterday 6th January, 2022. The protesters including masquerades carried placards and were drumming, thereby causing panic and apprehension.”
He warned those threatening to go to any length to protest the outcome of the investigations to go the legal way or be ready to face the full wrath of the law.
Sylvester’s died under controversial circumstances in November 2021 and his death went viral following a social media post by his cousin, Perry Oromoni, who alleged that some senior pupils of the school beat him up in his hostel because he refused to join a cult.
But the school denied the claim, stating that the boy complained of leg pains following an injury he sustained while playing football.
The state government ordered the indefinite closure of the school pending the outcome of an investigation into the matter.
Five students and five employees of the school were arrested by the police.
However, legal advice by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Adetutu Oshinusi, cleared the suspects.
But the Oromoni’s lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), and the father of the deceased student, Sylvester Oromoni Snr, noted that the acquittal of the suspects was to pave way for the reopening of the college, whilst insisting on the coroner inquest into the death of the schoolboy.
