Whitney Adeniran: Chrisland principal, others granted bail

Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Ikeja High Court has granted bail to four staff of Chrisland School, Ikeja, for the alleged involuntary manslaughter of a 12-year-old student, Whitney Adeniran.

Chisland School and the four staff – Ademoye Adewale, Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao, and Nwatu Victoria – were arraigned by the Lagos State Government on Thursday.

According to the charges filed by the state, the defendants allegedly killed Miss Adeniran on February 9, 2023, at about 1 pm, in Agege Sports Stadium, Agege, Lagos by acting in a reckless and negligent manner that endangered her life.

The state Attorney General, Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN, informed the court that the state had filed two count charges against the defendants, urging the court to take their plea.

Read Also: Missing skit maker Ijoba Lande returns home

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justice Ogala admitted the defendants to bail after defence counsel moved the motion for bail dated March 28 and March 29 respectively which was not opposed by the prosecution.

Ogala admitted the first and second defendants to N10 million bail each with two sureties each in like sum.

She also admitted 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 be gainfully employed, have credible and verified evidence of their financial status and reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

“All the sureties must have two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government and must submit their international passports with the Chief registrar of the state high court,” Ogala said.

The court, however, ordered the defence counsel to write an undertaken for the defendants to be released to them before the perfection of their bail.

Justice Ogala thereafter fixed May 25, June 1, 8, and 15 for the commencement of trial.