Death Of Chrisland School Student: Court To Rule On The Admissibility Of Treasury Receipts

Kemisola Oye

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja will on 2nd May rule on the admissibility of treasury receipts for the use of Agege Stadium where the death of Chrisland School student, Whitney Adeniran was said to have occurred.

The trial judge, Justice Oyindamola Ogala fixed the date after listening to the arguments of counsel from both parties in an ongoing trial of some staff members of Chrisland School and the school over alleged negligence in the death of the 12-year-old student.

At the resumed proceeding today, prosecution witness, Mr Yakubu Jubril, a social worker at the Ministry of Youth and Social Development was cross-examined by the defence counsel, Olukayode Enitan (SAN) and sought to tender some documents he claimed to be government treasury receipts.

He stated that the documents were dated 7 November 2018, 8 January 2020, 26 September 2016 and 9 January 2023, for payments for use of Agege Stadium.

The witness identified them as documents from the Lagos State Government Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development.

But the prosecution counsel, Dr Babajide Martins objected to the tendering of the documents on the ground that the witness was not the maker of the documents.

But Enitan argued that they were treasury receipts for the use of Agege Stadium by Chrisland School. He maintained that the documents were relevant because the Lagos State government collected payments for the use of the facility.

Other defendants’ counsel aligned with the submission of Enitan (SAN).

Mr Ajibola Ariba, counsel to the 5th defendant (Chrisland School) argued that the evidence must be relevant to the issue. He said, “The officer of the Lagos State government identified these documents.”

Earlier, the third defendant’s counsel had tendered the document containing the Sports Commission law to the court same of which was admitted as evidence.

Enitan, therefore, showed the witness some receipts of payment for usage of Agege Stadium by Chrisland School that bore the header of Lagos State Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Development, which the witness confirmed are issued by the state treasury.

However, the counsel to the second, fourth and fifth defendants; Richard Ahonaruogho (SAN), Ademola Animasaun and Ajibola Ariba respectively, urged the court to admit the receipts in evidence on the grounds of relevance as the witness is a government worker and the treasury bills were issued by the state government.

Justice Ogala subsequently adjourned the matter till 2nd of May 2024, for continuation of trial.

Eighteen-Eleven Media