Coroner Inquest: Absence of Sylvester Oromoni’s father stalls proceedings

The absence of father to the late Dowen College student, Sylvester Oromoni, on Monday, stalled proceedings at the coroner inquest to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of his son.

The coroner inquest, which previously held at the High Court in Epe, Lagos, is now holding within the premises of the Ikeja High Court, Lagos.

Also absent during proceedings was the sister of the deceased, who alongside Mr Oromoni Snr, was also slated to testify.

Giving the reason for their non-appearance, counsel for the Oromoni family, Andrew Efole, informed the inquest that it was due to ill health of the sister of the deceased.

“The girl who ought to testify is sick, the father who ought to be here is attending to the child who is receiving treatment,” he said.

On the whereabouts of the mother of the deceased and why she could not attend to her ailing child to enable Mr Oromoni attend proceedings, Mr Efole said, “the mother is not strong now for the things she is going through.”

Earlier during proceedings, counsel to Dowen College, Anthony Okpoko, expressed dissatisfaction with the interview granted by Mr Oromoni and published in the newspapers on the day of proceedings.

Mr Okpoko said the actions of Mr Oromoni was in contravention of an order granted by the Coroner’s Court restraining all parties from making comments to the press.

The Dowen College counsel, expressing his unhappiness to the inquest, said another relative of the deceased, Perri Oromoni, has been tweeting in respect of the matter. “This is a breach,” Mr Okpoko argued.

Responding, the coroner, Mikhail Kadiri, reiterated the order, threatening to issue a summon on the said relative (Perri Oromoni).

“Why has he single-handedly decided to be the Coroner?” Mr Kadiri queried.

Counsel to the Oromoni family apologised and promised to bring witnesses on the next hearing date.

Reacting, the counsel for the Lagos State government, Akin George, urged the court to apply Section 48(10) of the Coroner System Law.

The counsel for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Bernard Oniga, called for stiff sanctions for erring parties who showed disregard and disrespect to the Coroner Court.

Responding, the coroner told the Oromoni family’s counsel that: “On Friday we made no progress, on Thursday no progress both at your instance. I hope this is not a deliberate attempt to cast aspersions on this Inquest and to my personality.”

Mr Kadiri further adjourned the inquest to February 1 for continuation of hearing.

(NAN)