One year after the controversial death of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, his father has called for speed in getting justice for the deceased.
Oromoni Jnr died on November 30 over alleged assault, negligence and administration of poisonous substance at Dowen College in Lekki, Lagos.
A coroner inquest ordered by the Lagos State Government to unravel the cause of death, which commenced on the January 21, 2022 at the Magistrate Court, Epe (now Magistrate Court 20, Ogba) is yet to be concluded.
Oromoni Jnr’s father Sylvester Oromoni said in a statement that if the inquest is not concluded before the end of this year, he would be compelled to withdraw from it “in order to take a different legal step to seek justice.”
He noted with concern that the coroner inquest of the Ikoyi building collapse of 2021 where 52 persons died did not take this protracted time.
Also, the inquest on the Ojota Yoruba rally where one Miss Jumoke Oyeleke died had since been concluded, he added.
The statement read partly, “As the father of the deceased, I cannot be tired or discouraged from pursuing justice as I have promised my son to get him justice even if it will take thirty years to achieve it.
“Today, November 30, 2022 makes it a year since the demise of my son and the body is still in the morgue, yet to be buried. This one-year memorial being held today is to tell Nigerians and the entire world about the current position of the inquest and the antics of Dowen College.
“I am equally aware that some civil society organisations and NGOs in Abuja and Lagos are equally observing the one-year memorial today to mark his one-year untimely demise.
“May the soul of Sylvester Oromoni (Jnr.) and all departed souls rest in perfect peace. Amen.
“At this point, I wish to call on the Honourable Coroner to please do the needful by urgently bringing the inquest to an end as Nigerians and the entire world are waiting for the dispensation of justice in this case as justice delayed, is justice denied.
“This struggle is not only about my late son, but my own way of preventing the future occurrence of this tragic incident.
“In the same vein, we equally urge the Lagos State Government, as a matter of urgency to charge Dowen College and all the staff who had earlier been recommended for prosecution in the DPP Advice of 30th day of December, 2021 to court.”
“I must state categorically that if this inquest is not concluded before the end of this year, I shall be compelled to withdraw from it in order to take a different legal step to seek justice,” he added.
The coroner has adjourned proceedings twice after Dowen College failed to produce the two remaining witnesses from the school.
