Whitney: Chrisland failed to take compulsory risk assessment test

The Lagos State Safety Commission yesterday told a Lagos High Court, Ikeja, that the management of Chrisland Schools, Opebi, failed to take a compulsory risk assessment test of the commission.

A safety officer with the commission, Mr Wahab Ariyo, disclosed this at the resumed trial of the Chrisland Schools, Opebi and four of its staff members.

Ariyo testified as the fourth witness for the prosecution before Justice Oyindamola Ogala.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos State Government on March 31, 2023, charged Chrisland Schools Ltd. Opebi, its principal and vice principal and two others with the killing of Whitney.

Those charged alongside the school are Ademoye Adewale (a cotton candy vendor), Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao (Principal) and Victoria Nwatu.

The defendants are standing trial for allegedly causing the death of 12-year-old student, Whitney Adediran, during the school’s inter-house sports competition.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offences violate Sections 224 and 251 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.

Trial had since begun in the case with the prosecution still leading witnesses in evidence.

When the case was called yesterday, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dr Babajide Martins, called his fourth witness (Ariyo).

Ariyo introduced himself as an engineer and safety officer with the Lagos State Safety Commission.

He told the court that his duty in the office involved responding to emergencies in the state, investigating accidents and incidents to uncover the roots and immediate causes.

In relation to the instant charge, the witness told the court that the commission conducted investigations to ascertain the root cause of the fatality and to make recommendations to avoid further occurrence.

According to Ariyo, it is important to obtain Event Safety Permit for schools and public events having 250 guests.

He said the permit can be obtained by visiting the commission’s website to register the event.

Ariyo added that after this, the commission gets notified in its office, while an officer would be sent from the Events Department to the facility, to conduct basic assessments.

The witness told the court that afterwards the commission would give the requirements of the things to put in place, to avoid accident or emergency at such events.

“Once we carryout risk assessment and all requirements are met, we then issue a permit,” he said

According to him, on the day of the event, the commission sends out marshals from its office to ensure that all safety conditions are in place.

The witness told the court that for events with over 250 guests, there were further protocols such as ensuring availability of ambulance, first aiders and fire-fighting equipment.

On the Chrisland School fatality, he told the court that the commission became aware on Feb. 13, 2023, and visited the scene at the Agege Stadium.

He explained that the visit was to ascertain what went wrong, adding that on arrival, they discovered that most of the evidences had been tampered with.

Speaking further, he noted that on account of this, the team took photos and interrogated the school management and those who witnessed the event.

The witness said that fortunately for the team, there was another school hosting its inter-house sports at the same Agege stadium.

He added that the development presented an opportunity to have a feedback of what happened, as there were vendors at the scene.

On his findings at the scene he said, the school failed to obtain event permit from the Lagos Safety Commission, adding that no risk assessment was conducted.

He added that there was no ambulance, poor emergency management system, poor emergency communication and no retainership hospital close to the venue.