Oromoni: Black substance found in victim’s intestine, LASUTH lacks testing lab, says pathologist - Newstrends
Connect with us

metro

Oromoni: Black substance found in victim’s intestine, LASUTH lacks testing lab, says pathologist

Published

5 years ago

on

Sylvester Oromoni (Junior)

A pathologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Dr Sunday Soyemi, on Tuesday, said a blackish substance was found in the intestine of 12-year-old Sylvester Oromoni (Junior), a pupil of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, who died in controversial circumstances.

Soyemi stated this while being cross-examined by the family’s lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), before the coroner inquest set up to unravel the cause of the boy’s death.

The news of Sylvester’s death went viral following a social media post by his cousin, Perry Oromoni, who alleged that some senior pupils of the college beat him up in his hostel because he refused to join a cult.

But the school denied the claim, stating that the boy complained of leg pains following an injury he sustained while playing football.

A coroner inquest was subsequently set up to look into the circumstances surrounding the death.

At the Tuesday proceedings, Soyemi, while being led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Babajide Martins, said the first autopsy carried out on the corpse was botched because the process was not properly done.

Soyemi, who faulted the first autopsy report, noted that some organs that would have revealed whether the victim died of ingestion of a poisonous substance were not cut by the first pathologist.

According to Soyemi, the deceased had a generalised infection that could have been treated with massive doses of antibiotics, intravenous fluid and blood transfusion.

He said, “Following the order for a post-mortem examination issued by the coroner, I conducted a second autopsy on the body of the deceased. An initial interim report was issued and finally, a full autopsy report was also issued to the office of the coroner.

READ ALSO:

“Prior to the conduct of the autopsy, I did a total body radiograph to rule out any skeletal injury, that is, fracture; none was found and the radiologist confirmed there was no fracture. Before I started the autopsy, the doctor who conducted the first autopsy was in attendance and he was in attendance throughout.  So, I observed that the autopsy was not properly done. All that was not properly done is documented in my statement.

“For example, at the first autopsy, the pathologist never opened the oesophagus; the oesophagus is the food pipe. He also did not open the trachea; it is the air path through which we breathe. These are vital things that he should not have missed out.

“He concluded his report as chemical intoxication. For one to be intoxicated with a chemical, that chemical has to pass through the oesophagus, that is the food path. For someone that has not opened the food path, he cannot talk about chemical intoxication. A chemical that would be injurious to one, after ingestion, should cause injuries on the oesophagus because it would pass through the oesophagus, so it should never have been anything near chemical intoxication if he did not open the oesophagus.

“He also did not open the lungs; he did not detach the lungs from the heart. If he had done that and waded the lungs, it would tell him that something is wrong with the lungs. These are some of the many things he did not do. He did a botched autopsy and this was the cause of the controversy surrounding this case.”

However, Soyemi, during cross-examination by Falana, told the inquest that he did not carry out any test on the black substance found in the deceased’s intestine on the grounds that LASUTH did not have a laboratory to test poisonous substances.

He further admitted that the substance found in the intestine could have been anything as it was not tested to confirm what it was.

Soyemi also denied authorising a television interview granted by the doctor representing Dowen College, Dr Iwikwe Isabella, who spoke on the autopsy findings.

READ ALSO:

He said, “That’s not the practice. I was embarrassed when the report was being discussed on TV. I was embarrassed in the sense that she didn’t perform the autopsy; she observed all through. It’s not the normal practice even if you have done the autopsy.”

Soyemi, who noted that his findings showed that the deceased had lobar pneumonia, infection of the lung, liver, and also infection on the right ankle, maintained that the deceased died of septicaemia.

He explained that if the deceased was physically assaulted or beaten, all the exposed areas would show haemorrhage.

Earlier, the presiding magistrate, Mikhail Kadiri, had a heated argument with Falana when the counsel objected to a question the director of public prosecutions asked Soyemi.

Falana noted that Kadiri was fond of saying the inquest was not a regular court at his convenience.

However, the duo later settled the matter amicably.

Punch

Loading

Related Topics:
Advertisement

metro

Former Delta Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan Dies at 71, Three Days to 72nd Birthday

Published

4 hours ago

on

October 19, 2026

By

Emmanuel Uduaghan

Former Delta Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan Dies at 71, Three Days to 72nd Birthday

 

ASABA — The political landscape of Delta State and Nigeria at large was thrown into mourning on Monday following the demise of former Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, who passed away at the age of 71.

 

According to a statement released by his family, the former two-term governor died in the early hours of Monday, October 19, 2026, following a brief illness. His passing comes just three days shy of his 72nd birthday, as he was born on October 22, 1954.

 

The family’s statement, signed by Toju Anire Uduaghan, described the death as an “immeasurable loss.” They remembered the late politician as a “source of strength, a father figure, a beloved brother and uncle, and a respected elder” whose life and service touched countless people across Delta State and the nation.

 

A Legacy of Service

Dr. Uduaghan leaves behind a robust political legacy that spanned over a decade and a half in the public service of Delta State.

 

He began his political career as the Commissioner for Health between 1999 and 2003 under the administration of Governor James Ibori. His administrative acumen saw him elevated to the position of Secretary to the State Government (SSG) from 2003 to 2007, a role in which he played a pivotal part in the state’s governance structure.

 

In 2007, he successfully contested and won the governorship seat, succeeding his mentor, Ibori. He was re-elected for a second term, governing the oil-rich state until 2015. During his tenure, Uduaghan was widely known for his “Delta Beyond Oil” economic diversification agenda, an initiative aimed at shifting the state’s economic dependence from crude oil to agriculture, infrastructure, and human capital development. He was also fondly referred to as the “Talk and Do” governor due to his penchant for completing projects.

 

Outpouring of Grief

Following the announcement, tributes have begun to pour in from across the country. Political associates, friends, and constituents have taken to social media and traditional media to express their shock and sorrow at the passing of the former governor.

 

Many recall his time in office as a period of relative peace and infrastructural growth in Delta State. His family has requested privacy during this difficult time as they mourn the loss of their patriarch.

 

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in the coming days.

 

Former Delta Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan Dies at 71, Three Days to 72nd Birthday

 

Loading

Continue Reading

metro

Farmers-Herders Clash in Abuja Leaves Three Dead as Houses, Shops Burn

Published

11 hours ago

on

October 19, 2026

By

Farmers-Herders Clash in Abuja Leaves Three Dead as Houses, Shops Burn

Farmers-Herders Clash in Abuja Leaves Three Dead as Houses, Shops Burn

At least three people have reportedly been killed in a renewed farmers-herders clash in Paikon-Kore community, Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with several others injured and properties destroyed.

The violence, which reportedly began on Saturday afternoon and continued until Sunday morning, October 18, left houses, shops and a motorcycle burnt, while goods in the affected shops were destroyed.

However, another report put the death toll at five, with eyewitnesses saying both farmers and herders were among those killed. The exact number of casualties had yet to be officially confirmed as of the time of reporting.

A resident, Danlami Ibrahim, said the latest confrontation began after cattle allegedly entered a groundnut farm containing crops that were yet to be harvested.

According to him, the farm owner confronted the herders, leading to an argument that escalated into violence. One of the herders allegedly attacked a farmer with a cutlass, severing one of his hands.

The incident reportedly triggered anger among residents and led to retaliatory attacks in which three herders were said to have been killed. Several other people sustained injuries and were taken to hospitals in Gwagwalada for treatment.

READ ALSO:

The Secretary of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Gwagwalada Area Council chapter, Mohammed Usman, confirmed that three herders had died, although he said he was still gathering information about the number of injured people.

Usman said he had informed the Gwagwalada Area Council chairman, Kasim Mohammed Ikwa, about the incident.

Ikwa visited the affected community on Sunday alongside the Divisional Police Officer, SP Aaron H. Kaura, and other security personnel. He condemned the violence and called on residents to remain calm.

The council chairman said a stakeholders’ meeting would be convened to address the crisis and identify ways to prevent further clashes. He urged farmers, herders, youths and community leaders to embrace dialogue and avoid retaliatory attacks.

Ikwa also advised farmers whose crops were damaged by cattle to report such incidents to security agencies rather than resort to self-help. He urged residents to cooperate with security personnel deployed to restore peace.

The FCT Police Command spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, had yet to publicly respond to enquiries about the incident as of the time of the report.

The latest violence follows previous confrontations in Paikon-Kore and neighbouring communities, including a clash in August that reportedly left a farmer with a severed hand and three other people with machete injuries.

Recurring disputes over cattle grazing, destruction of crops, access to farmland and grazing routes have fuelled tensions between farming and herding communities across parts of the FCT.

Herders have also complained about the encroachment of designated grazing areas by farms, housing estates and other developments, while farmers have repeatedly raised concerns about livestock entering their fields and destroying crops.

The Federal Government has identified the FCT as one of the priority areas for efforts to address farmers-herders conflicts. The Ministry of Livestock Development has also announced plans to work with the FCT Administration and pastoralist groups to rehabilitate grazing reserves and improve livestock management.

Security analysts have called for stronger early-warning systems, impartial law enforcement, compensation for damaged crops and effective mediation to prevent local disputes from escalating into deadly violence.

The latest clash has renewed concerns about the safety of rural communities around Abuja and the need for a lasting solution to recurring disputes between farmers and herders.

Farmers-Herders Clash in Abuja Leaves Three Dead as Houses, Shops Burn

Loading

Continue Reading

metro

Ogun House Fire Horror: Husband Arrested After Wife Dies Following Domestic Dispute

Published

12 hours ago

on

October 19, 2026

By

Ogun House Fire Horror: Husband Arrested After Wife Dies Following Domestic Dispute
Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni

Ogun House Fire Horror: Husband Arrested After Wife Dies Following Domestic Dispute

Police in Ogun State have arrested a 56-year-old man, Madarikan Emehinola, following the death of his 40-year-old wife, Igbagbo Erobe, in a house fire in Igbo-Edu, Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.

The incident, suspected to be a case of arson, reportedly occurred at about 8:30pm following a domestic dispute, according to an eyewitness quoted by PUNCH Metro.

The Ogun State Police Command said the incident was reported at the Abigi Divisional Police Headquarters on Sunday, October 18, 2026, after information was received that a residential building had been set ablaze, resulting in the woman’s death.

The suspect was subsequently arrested as investigators began efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

The eyewitness account suggests that the fire occurred after a disagreement between the couple. However, the precise sequence of events leading to the fire, the cause of the blaze and whether it was deliberately set have yet to be conclusively established by the police.

The deceased’s body has been deposited at a mortuary for a post-mortem examination to help determine the cause of death and provide further evidence for the investigation.

READ ALSO:

The police said the case was being processed for transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for a more detailed investigation.

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni, assured residents that the matter would be investigated thoroughly and professionally in accordance with the law.

He reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and ensuring that allegations involving serious crimes receive appropriate investigative attention.

The police also urged members of the public to report suspicious activities and provide credible information that could assist investigators in establishing what happened.

Although the incident is being investigated as suspected arson, the available information has not conclusively established how the fire started or the motive behind it. The eyewitness account of a domestic dispute is an allegation that investigators will need to examine alongside other evidence.

The outcome of the post-mortem examination and further police inquiries is expected to provide additional information about the woman’s death.

The suspect’s arrest does not establish guilt. He remains entitled to due process as investigators work to determine the circumstances surrounding the fatal fire.

Ogun House Fire Horror: Husband Arrested After Wife Dies Following Domestic Dispute

Loading

Continue Reading

Trending