A pathologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) told Mikhail Kadiri, a medical examiner, on Tuesday that Sylvester Oromoni would have survived if he had been treated with a “massive dose of antibiotics,” intravenous fluids and blood transfusions.
Sunday Soyemi, the pathologist, spoke during a forensic investigation in Lagos that the autopsy he performed on the deceased indicated a “widespread infection”.
A Lekki-based school, Dowen College, has been in the eye of the storm since the death of Mr. Oromoni Jnr, a 12-year-old student.
The father of the deceased had reported that his son was beaten and forced by senior students to drink a liquid that killed him.
But the school denied the claim, saying he sustained injuries while playing soccer with his classmates.
He said the deceased’s medical condition was not a “terminal illness.”
However, Soyemi said the medical condition could lead to death if not treated properly, adding that the “death rate is high.”
autopsy findings
Mr. Soyemi shared some “sensitive” photos of the autopsy performed on the deceased.
One of the photos had the image of the deceased and his name tag, another showed an incision made in the chest area.
Some others presented a vertical mark on the chin (post-mortem lesion), “recent external circular lesion on the right ankle”, redness on the lower part of both legs (this shows that the embalming fluid did not reach that part). of your body), and the white brain shows that there is not enough blood in the body.
READ ALSO: How Sylvester Oromoni died – Family doctor
Soyemi said they checked and found “not a single skeletal injury.”
“Prior to performing the autopsy, I did a full body X-ray to rule out any skeletal injuries, ie fractures, none were found. And the radiologist confirmed that there was no fracture,” he said.
Earlier during the hearing, Soyemi described the first autopsy as “failed.”
In the first autopsy performed in the state of Delta, pathologist Clement Vhirterhire said the 12-year-old boy died of “acute lung injury due to chemical poisoning.”
Soyemi said that before the autopsy began, the doctor who performed the first autopsy was present.
“And he was present at all times,” he emphasized.
“So, I noticed that the autopsy was not done correctly. Everything that was not done correctly is documented in my statement.
“For example, in the first autopsy, the pathologist never opened the esophagus, the esophagus is the feeding tube. He did not open the trachea either, it is the path of the air through which we breathe.
“These are vital things that should not have been missed.
“He (the first pathologist) concluded his report as chemical poisoning. For one to be intoxicated with chemicals, that chemical has to go through the esophagus, that’s the way of food. If one has not opened the path of food, one cannot speak of chemical poisoning”.
Opposition
Femi Falana, the Oromoni family’s lawyer, said the pathologist should not be allowed to comment on the first autopsy because it was not presented as evidence in the investigation.
But the director of the Prosecutor’s Office, Babajide Martins, said that the testimony should be allowed because he is an expert and the forensic investigation is an investigative exercise.
“He is an expert witness and has a duty to the court and understands the issues that are relevant to the determination of this investigation,” Martins said.
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The matter led to a heated exchange between the coroner and Mr. Falana.
The coroner maintained that they are not in an ordinary court and accused Mr. Falana of defaming him and the investigation.
“I allowed all parties to speak, I listened to all, the rules of evidence do not apply,” the coroner said.
“You say this at your convenience,” Falana replied.
In reaction, the coroner said that he objects to Mr. Falana’s statement.
“If you are not satisfied with me personally handling this investigation, the avenues are there. I am not a tyrant, I am not afraid of anyone; I owe my duty to God. Learned silk says that I do that at my convenience. Take that back.
However, Falana said he has no reason to question the coroner’s integrity.
“Your honor, if I have created the impression that I question your integrity, I retract.”
The coroner also apologized for raising his voice.
He decreed that he would take any material that might aid in factual determinations. However, he said the DPP should limit questions to evidence presented in court.