Late Dowen College student, Sylvester Oromoni finally laid to rest two years after death

Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, a 12-year-old pupil of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos State, has been laid to rest on Saturday, January, 27, 2024 at the family’s compound at Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

NewsClick Nigeria reports that the late student’s burial comes after over two years after his death.

Human Rights Activist, Femi Falana (SAN) was among the dignitaries at the burial ceremony.

Oromoni (Jnr) died in November 2021 after he was alleged to have been beaten by five of his colleagues.

Dowen College dismissed the claim, alleging that the boy sustained injuries playing football with his friends.

Oromoni’s family had countered Dowen’s claim, arguing that their son had no health challenges before the incident.

They maintained that the boy would remain in the morgue pending a definite verdict from a coroner’s inquest into the matter.

In January 2022, an initial autopsy declared that Oromoni died of “acute lung injury due to chemical intoxication” but the result was later discredited.

The department of public prosecution (DPP) in Lagos released a second result ruling that Oromoni died naturally.

The case has been in court since 2022 and the bereaved family vowed to pursue the matter up to the apex court.

Last week, during the adoption of final written addresses by parties to the case, Mikhail Kadiri, the magistrate presiding over the coroner’s inquest on Oromoni, said the outcome of the court rounds will be made known on April 12.

“All witnesses have been called and the ruling is the only thing remaining,” a member of the family said.

“My family decided it was time to bury [him] and say our final goodbyes.”