The coroner inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Master Adebola Akin-Bright has commenced.
Akin-Bright was the boy with the missing intestine who died at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). He was referred to LASUTH from a private facility, Obitoks Medical Centre, Ile-Epo, Abule-Egba area of Lagos State.
The Inquest Court is fact-finding proceedings to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the boy’s missing intestine and his eventual death.
It is presided over by Mrs Bola Folarin-Williams, District Coroner, sitting at Magistrate Court 4, Botanical Gardens, Ebute-Metta, Lagos.
At the proceedings, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa represented the father of the deceased, Mr Olumuyiwa Akin-Bright, being the complainant; while Mrs Abiodun Kolawole represented the African Women Lawyers Association; and Mr O.A. Akinde, state counsel from the Ministry of Justice, represented the Lagos State Government, as an interested party.
At the proceedings, Mr Akinde told the court that necessary tests and examinations had been conducted on the corpse and there is a post-mortem report. The office of the Attorney General is aware of letters from solicitors to the father of the deceased seeking to preserve the corpse while the mother seeks the release of the corpse to her for burial. The state is not against any of the requests, as the court may decide.
Adegboruwa told the Coroner that the complainant would love to call the medical director of Hobitox Medical Centre where the deceased was first admitted and treated, the doctors who treated the deceased in LASUTH and all policemen involved in the investigations, to have a proper understanding of what happened to the deceased.
At this point, the Coroner informed that she got information that the autopsy report was ready and would soon get to the court, whereupon Adegboruwa applied that it should be made available to all the parties in the case.
The coroner said it may be necessary for the father and the mother of the deceased to file their respective applications on what to do with the corpse so that the court can rule on it.
Adegboruwa however stated that since the deceased died in LASUTH, it may be better to have an independent examination of the corpse by experts such as the Nigerian Medical Association, to avoid the likelihood of bias and conflict of interests.
Adegboruwa informed the Coroner that he became aware just today before the Court said that Mr Femi Falana, SAN, is the lead counsel to the mother of the deceased. He would prefer to liaise with Mr Falana, SAN so that both father and mother can harmonise their viewpoints. But in the interim, it is good to preserve the corpse since the Coroner has already assumed jurisdiction over the matter.
Akinde informed the Coroner that the state is ready to cooperate with and assist the parties by making available all witnesses and documents, including all doctors and medical personnel who attended to the deceased at LASUTH.
After listening to all the parties, the Coroner said today’s inaugural sitting is for preliminary proceedings to set the course for the inquest.
And asked the parties to meet to harmonise their views and submit the list of the names of witnesses to be called before the next date.
She directed that the autopsy report and all necessary documents to be made available to counsel the parties.
Following these discussions, the coroner clarified that Friday’s inaugural sitting was intended for preliminary proceedings to set the course for the inquest.
She urged all parties to work together to harmonize their views and submit a list of witnesses to be called before the next hearing.
The coroner also directed that the autopsy report and all necessary documents be made accessible to the parties’ legal representatives.
The case was then adjourned to November 24, 2023 for further proceedings.
Theresa Arike
