I DIDN'T INVESTIGATE MY DAUGHTER'S MEDICATION - WHITNEY ADENIRAN'S MOTHER TESTIFIES BEFORE COURT

Read Time:5 Minute, 9 Second

The mother of the late Whitney Adeniran, a 12-year-old student from Chrisland who passed away on February 9th, testified on Wednesday before the Lagos High Court in Ikeja about what she knew about her daughter’s demise.

Blessing Adeniran, a witness, testified before the court on February 9, 2023, during the inter-house sports competition of Chrisland School, Opebi, under the direction of Dr. Babajide Martins, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Despite her expectations, Adeniran did not witness her daughter Whitney taking part in any sports or matches that day.

She claimed that, after becoming concerned, she searched for her and ended up at Agege Central Hospital, where she discovered her daughter’s lifeless corpse.

Under cross-examination, Blessing discussed another event from January 20, 2023, when her daughter was ill.

She added that on that day, Whitney’s illness and difficulties breathing had been reported to her via phone by the school principal.

“I called my husband to inform him because I was at the gym, he picked her up from school and took her to the Hospital and he said I should join them there,” she said.

“I went to the hospital and met Whitney and her dad playing a game with his phone and she seemed fine to me. I also said they like going to the hospital and we laughed.”

When Whitney’s vitals were examined, the doctor, according to her, remarked that she was well and inquired as to whether Whitney had any upcoming school tests that might cause her to feel a little anxious. However, the Adenirans informed the doctor that Whitney was getting ready for inter-house sports.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria Richard Ahonaruogho, the counsel for one of the defendants, inquired about the medications her daughter’s doctor had prescribed.

Gratitude In her testimony, Adeniran stated that she did not look into the drugs the hospital was prescribing.

She added that she was ignorant of the harmful effects of the medication taken by the Inland Specialist Hospital, which was treating her daughter, and that she had no idea that the combination of nitrazepam and amitriptyline was prescribed.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria Richard Ahonaruogho, the counsel for one of the defendants, inquired about the medications her daughter’s doctor had prescribed.

Gratitude In her testimony, Adeniran stated that she did not look into the drugs the hospital was prescribing.

Adeyemi Miachel Adeniran, Whitney’s spouse, testified as the first prosecution witness during the prior Monday, January 22, 2024, sessions. He also informed Justice Oyindamola Ogala that Inland Hospital had examined Whitney and had produced a medical report. She had also been prescribed some medication by the hospital.

Additionally, he had acknowledged in court that, despite not knowing the names of the medications, the family took them as prescribed by Whitney, their daughter, and adhered to the dosage specified by the hospital on the medication itself.

He claimed that even before his daughter’s death on February 9, 2023, Chrisland School had begun to hint that she was ill, and it was only after he had the hospital report on February 16, 2023, that he learned the names of the medications.

Blessing did not know that the medications were intended to treat panic disorder, extreme anxiety, or insomnia when the question was posed to her during Wednesday’s proceedings.

The witness said she was informed that Whitney had experienced a heart arrest on February 9th at the Agege Central Hospital and Diagnostic Limited, where her daughter was transported from the stadium.

When Ahonaruogho inquired as to whether or not she had also been informed that electrocution might occur, she replied negatively.

He informed the witness that while amitriptyline is used to treat depression and schizophrenia, nitrazepam is intended to treat panic disorder, extreme anxiety, and insomnia. When he asked the witness if she was aware of this, she said that she was not.

When the witness was questioned if she knew that the combination of medications, particularly when given to a young kid, was a death sentence, the witness replied, “I do not know.”

As the witness answered questions from Bimpe Ajegbomogun, the first defendant’s attorney, she described what had transpired early on February 9th, just before her daughter departed for school.

When she went to investigate, she saw that her daughter was preparing breakfast in the kitchen, as she had claimed.

Ajegbomogun inquired as to whether the sound she had heard was frightening, but Blessing reassured her that it wasn’t and stated that using pots and utensils to cook made noise.

The witness was also questioned by the attorney regarding how the witness learned about the Housewives of Lagos Snapchat group, of which Whitney was a part, and whether or not she was aware of it.

The Witness said: “On Feb. 11, 2023, I had not slept since the incident of Feb. 9, so my husband asked me to get some sleep otherwise I might collapse, so I went to the bed and placed my phone and that of Whitney beside me.

“Whitney’s phone started buzzing with incoming messages and I called my husband to take the phone because I had a severe headache; the phone was locked so he asked who knew the password.

“My younger sister said she knew it and opened the phone, that was how he saw the messages where the members of the group were discussing how Whitney was electrocuted.”

Counsel to the third defendant, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olukayode Enitan on his part asked the court to grant a short adjournment for the continuation of cross-examination.

Justice Ogala agreed and adjourned the matter till tomorrow, Jan. 25, for the continuation of cross-examination.