Whitney Adeniran: Lagos Official Admits Agege Stadium Lacks Emergency Facilities

Kemisola Oye 

A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of some staff members of Chrisland School, Opebi, Ikeja alleged negligence in the death of Miss Whitney Adeniran, a 12-year-old student of the school who died in mysterious circumstances during the school inter-house sports competition held at Agege Stadium has said the stadium lacked emergency facilities. 

Mr Jubril Yakubu states this today before Justice Oyindamola Ogala of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja. 

Testifying further, Mr Yakubu insisted that “there was no need for it (emergency facilities). 

The Lagos State government had filed a criminal charge against Chrisland School Limited. Opebi and its principal, vice principal and two others for the death of Whitney on March 31, 2023.

However, at the resumed hearing today, Mr Yakubu, the third prosecution witness, who is also a  Deputy Director with the Ministry of Youth and Social Development in Lagos State, while being cross-examined by the third defendant counsel, Mr Olukayode Enitan (SAN), told the court that sports facilities in the state are owned by the state government. Yakubu was asked if it was part of the duty of the Sports Commission to establish and make sure that there is a proper medical facility to treat emergencies, and he responded, “No.”

Earlier, during the cross-examination, he was asked to read the Official Gazette of Lagos State No 9 Volume 50 which was admitted as an exhibit. He said the Commission was created by law of Lagos State, adding that law No. 4 states the function of the Commission, that it shall establish and maintain clean fields and premises for holding sports competitions, matches, etc. In which the district has a social worker service in charge. 

“District Six covers Oshodi, Ikeja, Opebi, Allen, Agege, Isolo, Abule Egba and the boundary of Ogun State. I don’t know all the social workers in District Six”. 

He also told the court that he did not know if it was normal for people to pay for usage of sports facilities in the state. 

Yakubu admitted knowing Agege Stadium as one of the recreational centres. He was therefore asked to read the Order Four of the Executive Order, 2016 which he admitted applies to the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Sport and not every other officer in the Lagos State public sector. 

Yakubu had in his evidence-in-chief told the court that he held a meeting in 2023 with the staff of Chrisland School, and added that there were minutes and video recordings of what happened during the meeting.

“I don’t have the minutes of the meeting because I’m not the admin secretary.” 

After listening to his evidence, with the agreement of counsel to all the parties, Justice Ogala adjourned further proceeding to 18 April 2024.

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