Coroner’s Inquest Reveals Ailing Sylvester Oromoni Taken To Church Rather Than Hospital

A medical doctor, Aghogho Owhojede, on Tuesday said the late Sylvester Oromoni, a 12-year-old student of Dowen College, was not taken to a hospital for proper treatment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Dr Owhojede, who has been the Oromoni family doctor for 15 years, testified before an Ikeja Coroner’s Court seeking to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of the student.

The student died on November 30, 2021.

Owhojede was questioned during Tuesday’s proceedings for over seven hours (9.30am to 5.15 p.m.) by counsel to Dowen College, two accused students of the school, Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Bar Association.

During proceedings, the medical doctor said that he treated the late Master Oromoni for acute malaria at the family home in Warri, Delta, from November 26, 2021, to November 30, 2021.

Answering questions from Mr. Akin George, counsel to Lagos State Government, Owhojede said he attended the same church, God’s Grace Ministry International Church, with the Oromoni family.

The doctor told the court that ailing Master Oromoni was taken to church for prayers for an unspecified number of days by his family.

“What was your response to the treatment at a church as opposed to a proper medical facility?” George asked.

“I am aware that the church is not a treatment centre. I am not against prayer, I will prefer a combination of both prayer and medical treatment,” the doctor replied.

The doctor said that on the day Master Oromoni died (November 30, 2021), he had referred him to Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, for further treatment.

He said that the late Master Oromoni could not be taken to the teaching hospital because his condition deteriorated “and he passed away”.

“Which hospital was he ever taken to before he died?” George asked.

“He was treated at home,” the doctor responded.

“Can you confirm that the deceased was not taken to any hospital for treatment?” George further asked.

“No, he wasn’t, my lord,” Owhojede said.

The Coroner, Dr. Mikhail Kadiri, adjourned proceedings until February 7 for continuation of hearing.

NAN reports that it was alleged that the 12-year-old Oromoni died on November 30, 2021, from injuries sustained in an attack by five senior students of Dowen College for allegedly refusing to join a cult.

It was also alleged that he was forced to drink an obnoxious substance by his attackers.

Advice by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution, which was released on January 4, however, disputed the allegations.

According to the advice, two separate autopsies revealed Master Oromoni’s cause of death as acute bacterial pneumonia due to severe sepsis.

(NAN)