Whitney: Stadium Rented To Chrisland Lacks Emergency Facilities – Lagos Official

A Prosecution witness, Mr Jubril Yakubu in the ongoing case of Lagos State Government and  Chrisland School on Thursday stated that the Stadium rented to Chrisland School lacked emergency facilities.

Mr Jubril Yakubu told the court  presided by Oyindamola Ogala of a Lagos High Court that there was no need for emergency facilities at the stadium where the incident occurred.

Lagos State Government  had alleged the school and the staff of negligence over death of a 12-year old student, Whitney Adeniran during an Inter-house sports competition that was held at the Agege Stadium, Lagos State.

The State Government had filed criminal charge against the 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 on Thursday, the third prosecution witness, a Deputy Director with the Ministry of Youth and Social Development in Lagos State when he was cross examined by the third defendant counsel, Mr Olukayode Enitan (SAN), told court that sport facilities in the state is owned by the state governement. Yakubu was asked if it was part of the work of Sport 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 noted  the commission was created by the law of Lagos State, adding that the law No 4 states the function of the commission, that it shall be establish and maintain clean field and premises so as to hold sport competition, marches etc.

He added that the district has social worker service in charge.

Yakubu said, ” District six covers: Oshodi, Ikeja, Opebi Allen, Agege, Isolo, Abule Egba and to the bandry of Ogun State. I don’t know all the social workers in district six.”

He also told court that he does not know if it is normal for people to pay for usage of sport facility. Yakubu admitted knowing Agege Stadium as part of recreational center. He was therefore asked to read the Order 4 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 held in 2023 with the staff of Chrisland School, and added that there were minutes and video recordings of what happened in that meeting. ” I do not have the minutes of the meeting because am not the admin secretary.”

Following the evidence of the witness. listening to his evidence, Justice Ogala thereafter adjourned further proceeding to April 18, 2024.