Whitney’s Death: No need for stadium to have emergency facility, official tells court during Chrisland trial

A deputy director with the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Jubril Yakubu, told the Ikeja Division of the Lagos High Court that there was no need for a stadium to have an emergency facility.

Mr Yakubu said while being cross-examined by the third defence counsel, Mr Olukayode Enitan, on Thursday.

The witness testified at the trial of Chrisland Schools Ltd, its principal, vice principal and two others for the killing of its 12-year-old student, Whitney Adediran.

Miss Adeniran was allegedly electrocuted during the school’s inter-house sports at the Agege Stadium on February 8, 2023.

The witness said there was no need for a stadium to have an emergency facility.

Mr Yakubu was asked if establishing and ensuring proper medical facilities to treat emergencies was part of the sports commission’s responsibilities, and he replied in the negative.

Earlier in the cross-examination, the social worker was asked to read the Official Gazette of the Lagos State No.9 volume 50, which was admitted as an exhibit.

He said the commission was created by the law of Lagos and that law No. 4 stated its function.

He said the commission was established to maintain playing fields and premises for sports competitions and matches where the district had social worker service in charge.

The witness also told the court that he did not know if it was normal for people to pay to use sports facilities, but he knew Agege Stadium was part of the recreational centre.

He was asked to read Order Four of Executive Order 2016, which he admitted applied to the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Sport and not every other officer in Lagos’ public sector.

In his testimony, Mr Yakubu told the court that he had an official meeting in 2023 with the staff of Chrisland School and that minutes and video recordings of that meeting were available.

The witness, however, said he did not have the minutes of the meeting at his disposal.

“I do not have the minutes of the meeting because I am not the admin secretary,” he said.

The Lagos government, on March 31, 2023, charged Chrisland School Ltd. Opebi, its principal and vice principal and two others with the killing of Miss Adeniran.

Those charged alongside the school are Ademoye Adewale (a cotton candy vendor), Kuku Fatai, Belinda Amao (principal) and Victoria Nwatu.

The judge adjourned the case until April 18 for continuation of trial.