Dowen College: Parental, medical negligence killed Sylvester Oromoni — Coroner

A court verdict on Sylvester Oromoni’s death at Dowen College has confirmed that he died due to septicaemia resulting from infections in his lungs and kidneys originating from an ankle wound, according to an autopsy report.

The coroner, Mikhail Kadiri, who presided over the proceedings, disclosed this while explaining the autopsy report at the Ogba Magistrate Court, popularly called Samuel Ilori Court on Monday in Lagos.

“No evidence of blunt force trauma in this body. The findings in the oesophagus and stomach are not compatible with chemical intoxication. Death, in this case, is natural,” he said.

However, he noted that Sylvester’s death could have been avoided with proper parental and medical care.

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Before his death, Sylvester had alleged being bullied by five senior Dowen College students, although the Lagos State Government cleared the individuals of charges related to his death in January 2022.

Dr Clement Vhriterhire, a pathologist with Central Hospital Warri, Delta State, who conducted the initial autopsy, confirmed the cause of death as pneumonia leading to sepsis. He also mentioned that timely medical intervention could have saved Sylvester’s life.

Magistrate Kadiri cleared some Dowen College students implicated in the incident, stating they were not involved in Sylvester’s death.