Mrs Adebisi Layiwola, the Principal of Dowen College, Lagos, on Tuesday wept before an Ikeja Corona’s Court while narrating how the death of a 12-year-old student, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr., was relayed to her.

The Coroner, Mr Mikhail Kadiri, needed to stand down proceedings for 10 minutes to enable the principal to pull herself together.

Layiwola stated that she got the news of the trainee’s death while in the process of examining a claims that the deceased was bullied by some senior trainees.

“When the uncle of the deceased came to the school, we were still in the procedure of the examination.

“He received a call from the sibling of the deceased in my existence, that the deceased’s case had actually taken a bad turn.

“It was not long, he received another call that the kid had actually passed on,” she said.

At this point in her testament, the Dowen College primary broke down in tears and the coroner ordered a 10-minute break.

Earlier, Layiwola, who has actually been the principal of the school for 4 years, informed the court during interrogation by counsel to the Oromoni household, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), that there was no cult in the school.

“On the cult claims, there is no cult in the school.

“In October, I was informed that the deceased was informed to describe the nudity of his sister by some students.

“We called the students who were involved however we did not actually talk to them about remaining in a cult. We spoke with them on the issue of bullying.

“On the problem of private part description, we established a panel to examine and make a suggestion.

“Due to the sensitive nature of the case, the boy in question was given an internal suspension, internal work for 2 weeks.

“He was made to apologise to the sibling and the deceased. He likewise opted for counselling,” she stated.

Falana asked if the witness asked the trainees whether they offered the deceased a compound to consume.

She said: “I did not inquire.”

“Would you be shocked that a black substance was found in the departed body?” Falana asked.

The witness responded: “I would not be shocked because I am not a pathologist.”

Falana further enquired if the witness was aware that some moms and dads had actually withdrawn their kids from the school because of bullying accusations.

“No. I can not keep in mind,” she said.

Falana likewise asked Layiwola if she understood that a parent came to Maroko Police Station to complain that her boy was bullied.

Reacting, she said: “Yes it holds true. The young boy has been withdrawn after Sylvester’s case, and the kid that bullied him was expelled after the death of the deceased.”

The witness also testified that she did not see the deceased until Nov. 23, 2021, adding that the condition of his health demanded his admission at the school’s sick bay, with medical personnel treating him.

“The medical doctor told me the deceased had pain in the hip. I was not in school on Nov. 21 and 22, 2021. As a principal I work with different proficient people.

“I did not see the deceased on those two days due to the fact that I was not given a report on him instantly and his case was not vital,” she stated.

Following Layiwola’s evidence, counsel to Dowen College, Mr Anthony Kpokpo, notified the court that the principal was the last witness from the school.

The coroner adjourned procedures until March 7 for continuation of hearing. (NAN)

NAN reports that the trainee passed away on Nov. 30, 2021.

His household is alleging that he died from injuries he sustained in an attack by 5 senior trainees of Dowen College, for declining to sign up with a cult.

The household also alleges that the late student was forced to consume an obnoxious substance by his assaulters.

Suggestions by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions released on Jan. 4, nevertheless, disputed the accusations.

It stated that an autopsy exposed the cause of the trainee’s death as intense bacterial pneumonia due to severe sepsis.

ToriNG