Four staff members of Chrisland High School Ikeja have been arraigned by the Lagos State Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) over the death of one of their students, Whitney Adeniran.
The arraigned staff members include the school principal, vice principal, and two employees, and they have been charged with manslaughter and negligent acts.
The accused staff members, Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao, and Nwatu Ugochi Victoria, were brought before Oyindamola Ogala, the judge of the Ikeja high court, on Thursday.
After the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.
Whitney died on February 9 during a sports event at Agege Stadium. Following her death, her mother, Blessing Adeniran, accused Chrisland School of withholding information on the cause of her daughter’s death.
As a result, the state ministry of education ordered a temporary closure of the school pending an investigation.
An autopsy conducted on February 15 revealed that Whitney, who was only 12 years old, died from asphyxia and electrocution. The school has since issued a public apology on the matter.
However, an inquest into the case is set to begin on April 4.
The Lagos Ministry of Justice established a case of manslaughter and negligence against the school, leading to the arraignment of the four staff members.