Mrs O.O. Fajana, the Coroner presiding over an inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Miss Whitney Adeniran, a student of Chrisland Schools, Lagos, has cautioned Counsels in the case over unnecessary questions.
Fajana said on Tuesday that irrelevant questions in the case would hinder the speedy conclusion of the inquest.
The 12-year-old student had died during the school’s inter-house sports on February 9 at the Agege Stadium, Lagos.
Fajana had on Monday told parties in the suit to refrain from any actions that could prolong the inquest.
Her warning followed a request by one of the school’s Counsel, Mr Olukayode Enitan, for the picture of the student posted on social media by her father after her death.
She further noted that any demonstrations sought by any Counsel should be done by a doctor, not Mr Michael Adeniran, father of the deceased, currently being cross-examined.
“The witness is not a medical practitioner, a doctor will be in a better person to demonstrate using pictures of the deceased person,” she said.
Fajana said the more relevant the questions, the faster the inquest would be.
She also asked the Lagos State Counsel, Mr A.A. George, to get a picture of the deceased student from the investigative police officer and tender it in evidence so that Enitan could request for it.
Fajana adjourned the matter until May 15.
In his submission, George said the inquest was to know where, when and how Whitney died, as well as to know if anyone was responsible.
He said he did not see how social media applied to knowing how the incident occured.
Meanwhile, during Michael’s continued cross-examination by Enitan, the Counsel asked the witness if he was aware that one of the drugs (Netrazepam 5mg) prescribed to Whitney by a doctor from Inland Specialist Hospital, was used in treating epilepsy.
The witness responded that he was not aware.
Enitan said the risk of death from using Netrazepam in children was 75 per cent.
The Counsel, referring to paragraph 49 of the witness’s statement, asked Michael how he reached the conclusion that Whitney was not administered first aid before her death.
Enitan said a qualified nurse attended to the student before she died.
However, Michael said he would not believe it since the school nurse told him that she was not there when the incident occured but was called, and when she got there, she saw Whitney on the ground with no pulse.
Referring to the outfit Whitney wore on the fateful day, the Counsel told the court that the deceased was wearing a green shirt and a short, representing green house, and had sneakers with a rubber sole.
He said the sole would make electrocution difficult.
Responding, the witness said when he saw the deceased at the Agege Central Hospital, she did not wear any shoes.
The Counsel asked the witness if he took pictures of the deceased, and he said that the pictures he posted on his Instagram page was taken by the police.
Enitan further asked if the witness was active on social media, and he responded, “Yes”.
Counsel to the Adeniran Family, Mr Femi Falani, said he had no questions, but noted that Enitan was taking the witness to the medical terrain whereas medical practitioners would testify at the inquest.