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By Lukman Olabiyi, Lagos
The Coroner Inquest set up to ascertain the cause of death of a 12-year-old Chrisland School pupil, Whitney Adeniran, who died on February 9, has fixed April 4 for a hearing to commence.
Magistrate Olabisi Fajana fixed the date after entertaining submissions of all counsel, who appeared before the court sitting in Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
The counsel to the deceased family, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), had informed the court that they were unable to file a witness statement as instructed by the court at the last adjourned date.
Falana told the court that the Magistrate Registry refused to process the enrolling of the witness statement, on the grounds that there is no provision for filling of Coroner processes.
The counsel for Chrisland School, Mr Olukayode Enitan (SAN), and the State counsel, Mr Akin George, also corroborated the position of Falana, seeking the court`s directives as to how to get their processes filed.
Fajana informed the counsel that she would get directives from the Chief Magistrate on how to ensure that the processes were filed before the Coroner.
Enitan informed the court that he has an application before it, seeking to get samples and materials to carry out an independent evaluation of the autopsy report.
In a counter-reaction, Falana who said that they have not been served, told the court that the autopsy of the deceased was done in the presence of the school representatives and other concerned parties.
However, the state counsel, George, told the court that what the state received was a letter, not an application, and the state would respond at the appropriate time.
Fajana, thereafter adjourned the commencement of trial until April 4, and advised all counsel to ensure that their processes were filed and confirmed on April 3.
