Teacher and house parent at Dowen College, Lekki Lagos, Mr. Ayomo Ahmed on Monday told the Coroner court that one of the students (name withheld) that was indicted in the alleged murder of late Sylvester Oromoni jnr. was punished for asking him to describe his sister’s private part.
Ahmed said when the incident was reported to him, the student (name withheld) and others involved were called and he scolded them and admonished them to desist from such act, while the main culprit was punished.
The house-master made this disclosure while being crossed-canines by Mr Femi Falana (SAN). during the proceedings in the ongoing inquest to unravel the circumstance surrounding the death Oromoni (Jnr).
Ahmed said ; the deceased reported to him that some students were laughing at him, because the student had asked him to describe his sister’s private part.
Speaking on the alleged injury sustained by the deceased, he said he complained to him that he while playing football and has pain on his thigh. “I was never aware that the deceased was beaten up in school. I am not aware that he was being forced to join the cult.
Also while being cross-examined by a lawyer representing the school, Mr. Izuchukwu Ohajinwa said that there is no secret cult group in the school.
The deceased father had alleged that his child was threatened to join a cult group and forced to drink a substance that led to his death
The teacher however denied this allegation.
In another cross-examination with Akin Goerge, a lawyer for the state government, Mr Ahmed confirmed that the deceased requested to change his room in October due to missing personal effects.
He, however, said that the issue of stolen items are not peculiar to the deceased but nothing that he helped him to search for it.
“We search for it everywhere,” he said. “He was my boy, he was like other students,” he added.
He said he wasn’t around on November 20 (Saturday) and 21 (Sunday) when the deceased played football and was later picked by his relative on November 23 due to ill health.
“On Saturday (November 27) I called the mother to ask after Sylvester, she said they were in church and that the healing hands of God were upon him,” he said.
Mr Ahmed said on Sunday, a visiting day, he told the principal that “one of our boys went home and is staying too long and she asked for his mother’s number then called but no response.
“I called the mom and she picked and I connected the two of them then we heard him screaming at the background, she asked why the screaming, the mother said they were massaging his body (and) the principal prayed for him.”
When the coroner, Mikhail Kadiri asked if there was standard practice on the discipline of students. Mr Ahmed replied in the affirmative.
“Are you aware of the sister’s private parts issue,” the coroner asked. He also replied in the affirmative.
He also told the court that such an incident can be considered a major cause.
“Are you surprised the school didn’t take any measure against the boys mentioned? You said you weren’t aware of any discipline meted out to the boys.”
Mr Ahmed said the boy was punished by the hostel director and the assistant director of school management was involved.
The coroner further asked him how he would feel as a father if such had happened to his child, he said he won’t be happy and that he would have notified the school, of the incident.
When asked: “If you’re aware no sanction is meted out will you still have confidence in the school?”
“It depends, I will still have confidence in the school, he said.
Mr Ahmed however added that the school is planning to install CCTV in its environment. And house masters would be assigned to each floor to properly monitor the students’ activities.
