Mr. Sylvester Oromoni Snr, the father of the late 12-year-old Dowen College student, Sylvester Junior, who tragically passed away under contentious circumstances following alleged bullying and forced ingestion of a substance, has expressed his disagreement with the Coroner Inquest’s ruling that implicated him, his wife, and the family doctor in their son’s demise.
He emphasized that the case is far from over, citing the lack of a definitive conclusion from the medical expert regarding the black substance discovered in his son’s stomach.
The Coroner Inquest, which investigated the circumstances surrounding Sylvester Oromoni Jnr’s death, absolved Dowen College and the five students accused of mistreating and coercing the deceased to consume a substance linked to his passing. Instead, it held the deceased’s parents and family doctor accountable for negligence.
Magistrate Mikhail Kadiri, presiding over the inquest at the Ogba Magistrate Court, cleared Dowen College, its staff, and the five students of any direct involvement in Sylvester’s death. He refuted claims of negligence on the school’s part and dismissed allegations against the senior students accused of bullying and administering a harmful substance.
Magistrate Kadiri, visibly emotional during the proceedings, lamented the avoidable nature of Sylvester’s death, attributing it to parental and medical negligence for failing to seek timely medical attention.
Despite the emotionally charged nature of the case, Magistrate Kadiri maintained objectivity in delivering his findings, highlighting the avoidable suffering endured by the deceased and the need for accountability in the tragic events leading to his untimely demise.
The inquest, which spanned over six hours and involved testimony from 32 witnesses since its commencement in January 2022, shed light on the complexities and heart-wrenching details surrounding Sylvester Oromoni Jnr’s passing.
