Sylvester Oromoni: Pathologist Finally Reveals Cause of Dowen College Student’s Death
- Dr Clement Vhriterhire, a consultant pathologist in Delta state, has unveiled findings from the autopsy he conducted on Dowen College's late student, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr.
- Testifying in Lagos, Vhriterhire said there was no proof of chemical intoxication in Oromoni Jnr's body
- The pathologist said his findings revealed that Oromoni died from acute inflammatory pneumonia due to severe sepsis
Ikeja, Lagos state - Dr Clement Vhriterhire, a consultant pathologist at the Central Hospital, Warri, Delta, who carried out the first autopsy on Dowen College's late student, Sylvester Oromoni Jnr., says there was no proof of chemical intoxication in his body.
The Nation cited the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as reporting that Vhriterhire conducted the first autopsy on the deceased 12-year-old student on Thursday, December 2, 2021, in Warri.
Source: Facebook
Legit.ng gathers that the medical expert testified on Monday, March 14, before an Ikeja Coroner’s Court.
Cause of Sylvester Oromoni's death - Vhriterhire
Responding to questions from the Coroner, Mikhail Kadiri, the pathologist said contrary to social media reports, there were no signs of chemical intoxication found in the deceased.
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Vhriterhire said his findings revealed that Oromoni died from acute inflammatory pneumonia due to severe sepsis.
His words:
“This is the final autopsy report that I issued. After I had settled down and reviewed my microscopic slide, in light of nothing significant from the toxicology, I married everything together.
“In the absence of chemical intoxication, and different organs were showing inflammatory processes, I came about acute inflammatory pneumonia due to severe sepsis. This is my final report.”
No sign Sylvester was beaten to death - Pathologist
Vhriterhire also told the court that he was served a paper by the police on in December 2021 to carry out an autopsy, which was conducted at Safe Haven Medicaid, Warri.
He said prior to conducting the autopsy, he was informed that the deceased was beaten to death and that upon viewing the body, he did not see any open injury suggesting the deceased was beaten.
He told the inquest that the father of the deceased had provided his medical history.
“He told me the deceased was allegedly beaten which led to his death. That was the initial information before I touched the body.
“After that, I opened the body appropriately. I expected to see certain things on the deceased body based on the information I was given but I did not see any open injury that suggested that he was beaten.
“The only thing external was bruises and scalding of the lips. I was expecting internal bleeding, may be rupture of the internal organ but I saw none.
“At this point, I informed the member of the family that I didn’t see any evidence the deceased was beaten.
“They called the father and told me that in the process of being beaten, the deceased was given a poisonous substance to drink,” the pathologist said.
Dr Vhriterhire further said he saw a chocolate coloured material mixed with blood after he opened up the deceased and took the samples for toxicology.
His words:
“I opened the stomach based on what I saw, there was a chocolate colour material mixed with mucus. I considered toxicology the only way I could know what the substance meant.
“I took some samples, blood from the heart, piece of liver, for toxicology. I also took a piece from the tongue and most organs of the body and processed them."
He added that towards the end of the week, he received a call from the Police in Lagos that the father of the deceased had formally made a complaint and would like another autopsy to be carried out in Lagos.
“On that Sunday afternoon, I had to rush to the office and check the microscopic slide to write out the report.
“I found out that the blood vessel was not clearly healthy under the microscope, I also discovered acute lung injury, added with the story that the deceased was beaten, I came about the interim report while still waiting for toxicology to validate,” he said.
I agree with Lagos autopsy report - pathologist
The witness, moreover, told the court that he was 100 per cent in agreement with the second autopsy report, conducted by the acting Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos state, Dr Sokunle Soyemi.
He said:
“I was at the second autopsy in Lagos as an observer because the father of the deceased informed me to be present all through.
“I did not have anything in my mind that will make me think nothing was wrong with the second autopsy as I agree 100 per cent with the result."
The coroner adjourned proceedings for a continuation of the hearing.
Lagos govt replaces justice ministry official who absolved Dowen College staff, students
Meanwhile, the Lagos state's Ministry of Justice has moved the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Adetutu Oshinusi to another department; the directorate of citizens rights.
Oshinusi was allegedly moved due to the growing backlash that greeted the exoneration of the staff and five students of Dowen College.
The students were arrested and questioned over the death of Sylvester.
However, Oshinusi had in her recommendation to the police on the matter called for the release of the Dowen staff and students suspected to have a hand in circumstances leading to the death of Oromoni.
Source: Legit.ng
