Drowned or Electrocuted? Parents of Deceased 2-Year-Old Lagos Pupil Consider Thursday For Autopsy

The parents of a toddler who died in Smiley Kids Montessori, Sangotedo, Lagos, in January, are considering Thursday for an autopsy.

This is to ascertain the real cause of their daughter’s death, as they suspect a possible cover-up. Earlier, FIJ reported how the school claimed the two-year-old daughter of John Ogbodo, a Lagos resident, drowned in the swimming pool.

However, the parents had doubts about the school’s claim and, consequently, demanded the truth. They believe their daughter may have died from electrocution but then was thrown in the pool to appear as though she had died by drowning.

Some staff members of Smiley Kids Montessori were arrested for interrogation.

The arrested people include Thomas Ayodele, the proprietor; Antonia Igbafe, the head of the nursery class; Helen Obhodaghe, the class teacher; Mohammed Hauwa and Mohammed Habibat, caregivers; and Udofia Ini-Obong, the pool instructor.

When FIJ called the father of the deceased toddler on Friday afternoon, he said that the police were still investigating the matter.

“Investigation is still ongoing. The police are at the advanced stage of the investigation,” Ogbodo disclosed.

FIJ also learnt that apart from the school proprietor, who was released on health grounds but directed to report at the station every day, and the pool instructor, who was let go because he was not a staff member and had only gone to the school to help take the toddler out of the pool, others remained in custody.

When FIJ reached out to Ben Hundeyin, the Lagos police spokesperson, for comments on Friday afternoon, calls as well as WhatsApp and text messages were unanswered.

According to Ogbodo, the autopsy is to be done by the state government. And it has taken this long because the family has to consent to it.

“They have not done the autopsy yet, but we are looking at next Thursday for it. The government is the one doing the autopsy, and it’s delayed for this long because we, the family, have to give our consent before they go ahead,” Ogbodo said.

Following the swimming pool incident at Smiley Kids Montessori, the Lagos State Government shut down the school on January 17.

In a press statement by ‘Kayode Sutton, the deputy director of public affairs, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education in Lagos, to update the public on this clampdown, it was noted that the school had not been approved.

“The school was placed under lock and key as the government begins a preliminary investigation to ascertain the root cause of the drowned 2-year-old pupil of the school,” the statement reads in part.

When FIJ called Sutton on Friday afternoon, he said the matter was still under investigation. He said he was just hearing of the information about the autopsy from FIJ but would make further findings

“I am just hearing that (about the autopsy) from you. I have not gotten any information officially in that regard. Now that you have told me, I will ask,” Sutton said.

“What I know is that those people who are somehow connected to the incident are still under investigation. I have also not been told what are the findings yet. But the investigation continues because even an autopsy is still part of the investigation.”

The school management issued a statement in the last week of January to express its “profound sadness” at the death of the preschool pupil.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the Ogbodo’s family, whose pain and grief we cannot begin to imagine. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement agencies and government authorities to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation into it. Following this tragic incident, our school is under closure while investigations are ongoing,” the school stated.Tap Here for the Full Story