Chrisland School Limited, its principal, vice principal, and two other employees were arraigned by the Lagos State Government on Thursday over the death of a pupil, Whitney Adeniran.
The defendants were arraigned on two counts of involuntary manslaughter and reckless and negligent acts at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja.
The Chrisland school’s principal, Belinda Amao, was seen weeping inside the dock after she and the other employees had taken their plea.
The incident took place on February 9, 2023, at the Agege Sports Stadium.
The state Attorney General, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), announced his appearance for the prosecution and told the court that the state had filed two counts against the defendants.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them.
Onigbanjo informed the court that the state had 17 witnesses it intends to call during the trial and as such prayed to the court for a date for an open trial.
Meanwhile, the defendants’ counsel told the court that they had an application for bail, and their oral application was not opposed by the prosecution.
Justice Oyindamola Ogala granted the school principal and vice principal bail in the sum of N20m each with two responsible and credible sureties each in the like sum of N10m each.
The judge further granted the first defendant, Ademoye Adewale, who is a vendor, as well as the second defendant, Kuku Fatai, who is a teacher at the school, bail in the sum of N10m, with two credible sureties in like sum.
The case was adjourned till May 25, June 1 and 15, 2023, for trial.
