Sylvester Oromoni: Activists, Father Call For Justice After One Year As Corpse Remains In Mortuary

By Frank Oshanugor

Civil right activists coming under the auspice of the hashtag JUSTICE4SYLVESTEROROMONIJNR A MUST COMMITTE WORLDWIDE in collaboration with Niger Delta Non-Violence Agitators Forum (NDNAF) on Wednesday tasked the Lagos State Government to speed up the process of giving justice to family of the late 12-year-old student of Down College, Lekki Sylvester Oromoni (junior) who died in bizzare circumstances in 2021.

Leading the pack of other activists at a press conference held in Lagos to mark the one year anniversary of Oromoni’s death, the National Publicity Secretary of NDNAF who is also the immediate past President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Comrade Henry Oyobolo said “today the 30th of November, 2022 we once again join well meaning Nigerians, human rights groups, which include JUSTICE4SYLVESTEROROMONIJNR COMMITTEE NATIONWIDE to seek for justice for this innocent young 12 years old Nigerian killed in questionable circumstances.

“However, we are aware that a Corona inquest has been set up to investigate the circumstance surrounding his death so we as a group will not go into a matter that is already in Court. Nigerians are seeking for justice for late Sylvester Oromoni junior.

“We are using this medium to appeal to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to make sure justice is served as this case is not swept under the carpet like other murder cases that we do not hear about anymore.”

Chairman, National Committee for Justice for Sylvester Oromoni, Mr. Omopeku Rotimi Francis speaking at the press conference said the death of Sylvester Oromoni junior was one death too many.

According to him, his Committee was fully in support of the Ijaw nation in the demand for justice for Oromoni adding that the “whole world is watching the Lagos State Government to deliver justice on Oromoni junior’s case.

Another activist of Yoruba extraction and mother of four; Modupe Okunjoyo said though she is Yoruba by tribe while Oromoni hailed from Delta State, yet as mother, she shared in the agony of Sylvester’s mother who jointly with her husband had nurtured the young boy to the age of 12. She therefore called all mothers irrespective of tribe and religion to rise up and demand justice for the Sylvester Oromoni as such incident could happen to any family.

“If we do not get justice on Sylvester Oromoni, I am afraid such evil practice may continue even to future generation. There must be justice to forestall future occurrence.

The press conference which took place at Sunnyside Hotel premises at Ketu area of Lagos with candle light procession, attracted many Ijaw youths who were clad in customized T-shirt with inscriptions to seek for justice for the Sylvester Oromoni.

Mr. Sylvester Oromoni, father of 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni (jnr) said nothing had been done to get justice for his son one year after his death.

Recall that on November 30, 2021, Sylvester was allegedly tortured to death by some senior students of the Dowen College. My

The father in a statement on Wednesday said his son’s blood was still crying out for justice which is not forthcoming.

He said the inquest by the government had been unending, adding that if it was not concluded before the end of 2022, the family would pursue other legal means to get justice.

The statement read partly, “As the father of the deceased, I cannot be tired or discouraged from pursuing justice as I have promised my son to get him justice even if it will take 30 years to achieve it.

“November 30, 2022 makes it a year since the demise of my son and the body is still in the morgue, yet to be buried.

“This one-year memorial being held today (Wednesday) is to tell Nigerians and the entire world about the current position of the Inquest and the antics of Dowen College. My

“I am equally aware that some civil society organizations and NGOs in Abuja and Lagos are equally observing the one-year memorial to mark his one-year untimely demise. May the soul of Sylvester Oromoni (Jnr.) and all departed souls rest in perfect peace. Amen.

“A Coroner Inquest that was ordered by the Lagos State Government to unravel the cause of death which commenced on the 21st day of January, 2022, at the Magistrate Court, Epe (now Magistrate Court 20, Ogba) is yet to be concluded.

“The Legal Advice earlier issued by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Lagos State indicted Dowen College and some of its staff and recommended them for prosecution under Section 252 of the Criminal Law (C17) Vol. 3 Laws of Lagos State 2015” the statement said.

He noted that despite the advice, the persons named by DPP were still working freely while the body of the deceased continues to lie in the morgue.

He called for the end of the inquest, saying Nigerians and the entire world “are waiting for the dispensation of justice in this case. Justice delay is justice denied.”