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The prosecution witness in the case of Lagos State Government vs Chrisland School has stated that the stadium rented to the school lacked emergency facilities.
according to him “there was no need for it”.
The witness, Mr Jubril Yakubu, stated before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja on Wednesday at the ongoing trial of the staff of Chrisland School,
Lagos State Government had accused the school and staff of negligence over the death of of a student, Whitney Adeniran, during an inter-house sports competition held at the Agege Stadium. The state government had filed criminal charge against Chrisland School Limited, Opebi; its principal, vice principal and two others for the death of Adeniran on March 31, 2023.
However, at the resumed hearing on Thursday, the third prosecution witness, a seputy director with the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, while being when cross examined by counsel to the third defendant, Mr Olukayode Enitan (SAN), told court that sport facility is owned by the state governement.
Yakubu was asked if it was part of the work o of the Sports Commission to establish and make sure that there are proper medical facility to treat emergency, he responded, “no.”
Earlier in the cross examination, he was asked to read Official Gazette of Lagos State No 9 volume 50 which was admitted as exhibits. He said the commission was created by the law of Lagos State, added that the No 4 law states the function of the commission, that it shall establish and maintain clean field and premises of holding sports competition, matches etc, adding that the districts will have social workers in charge.
” istrict six covers Oshodi, Ikeja, Opebi,Allen, Agege, Isolo, Abule Egba and to the boundary of Ogun State. I don’t know all the social workers in district six,” he said.
Yakubu also told the court that he does not know if it is normal for people to pay for usage of sport facility.
He admitted knowing Agege Stadium as part of recreational center.
He was therefore asked to read the Order four of the Executive Order 2016, which he admitted that it applies to Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Sport and not every other officers in Lagos State public sector.
Yakubu had in his testimony told the court that he had an fficial meeting with the staff of Chrisland School in 2023, stressing that there were minutes and video recordings of what happened in that meeting.
“I don’t have the minutes of the meeting because am not the admin secretary,” he said.
After listening to his evidence, with the agreement of counsel to all parties, Justice Ogala adjourned further hearing to April 18, 2024.