Lagos State Approves Reopening of Chrisland High School

The Lagos State government has decided to allow Chrisland High School, Opebi branch, to reopen for physical learning in response to an appeal from parents. This decision comes ahead of the school’s forthcoming examinations.

As previously reported by MySchoolGist, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had ordered the closure of the school on March 3, 2023, in the wake of the investigation into the death of 12-year-old student Whitney Adeniran. The governor, through the state Ministry of Education, stated that the closure would enable an uninterrupted investigation and provide time for all stakeholders, including parents, students, staff, and friends of the deceased, to mourn.

The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice ordered a coroner’s inquest into the matter to determine the cause of death. An autopsy was conducted on February 15 at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) by Prof. Sunday Soyemi, Consultant Pathologist, in the presence of Dr. Samuel Keshinro, Consultant Pathologist representing the deceased’s family, and Dr. Olugbenga Oyewole, Consultant Pathologist representing Chrisland Schools.

The autopsy report, dated March 1, revealed that the cause of Whitney Adeniran’s death was asphyxia and electrocution. As a result, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice directed the Directorate of Public Prosecutions to issue legal advice on the matter. He added that the school would remain closed to further investigate the endangerment of students and others.

On Monday evening, the state Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, announced in a statement that the ministry had granted permission for students in terminal classes to access the Opebi branch of Chrisland High School to resume physical learning in preparation for their upcoming examinations.