The lingering mystery surrounding the death of 12-year-old Whitney Adeniran took a new turn on Friday as a government-appointed pathologist confirmed that the Chrisland Schools student died from electrocution, not natural causes as initially speculated.
Testifying at the resumed coroner’s inquest held at the Ikeja Magistrate Court (Suit No. MCIK/CONA/1/2023), Dr. Sanni Ayodele Daniel, a consultant pathologist, told the court that an autopsy revealed Whitney suffered asphyxia resulting from an electric shock.
He dismissed suggestions that an underlying medical condition or drug use may have played a role in her death.
“The findings are conclusive. The evidence points clearly to electrocution as the cause of death,” Dr. Daniel said.
He highlighted several clinical signs consistent with electric shock, including swelling of the brain (cerebral oedema), pinpoint hemorrhages under the pleura (subpleural petechial hemorrhages), electric burns on the right knee, kidney damage from shock, unusually fluid blood, and injuries to the eye and forearm.
“These are classic symptoms of electrocution,” he told the court.
Whitney collapsed on February 9, 2023, during an inter-house sports event organized by Chrisland Schools at the Agege Stadium in Lagos.
Her sudden death sparked public outrage, with her parents demanding a full investigation into the incident.
Legal representatives for the family, including counsels Oluwatodimu Ige, Obiechina Justin, and Oluwabusayomi Gbadegesin were present at the hearing.
The Lagos State Ministry of Justice was represented by Araba, Esq, while the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) was represented by legal counsels Abimbola Ojenike and Oluwadamilola Omotosho.
However, representatives from Chrisland Schools and the vendor allegedly linked to the incident, Ademoye Adewale, were absent from the proceedings, despite being formally served hearing notices.
Their failure to appear in court drew condemnation from the legal teams and several observers present at the hearing.
The coroner subsequently adjourned the case to August 8, 2025, for the continuation of cross-examination.
Whitney’s death has reignited a national conversation around child safety in schools and accountability in the private education sector.
Many parents and advocacy groups are now calling for stricter enforcement of safety standards at school events and more rigorous oversight from education authorities.
