The family of the late Senator Buruji Kashamu has regretted the death of a 12-year-old pupil of Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, Sylvester Oromoni. Jnr.
While confirming that one of their sons, Michael Adewale Kashamu, was named among the suspected bullies of the deceased, the family called for calm and supported the ongoing investigation into the matter.
The family made this known in a statement issued by one Mutairu Kashamu, according to Sahara Reporters on Sunday.
According to the family, Michael Kashamu had no involvement in the death of Oromoni.
In the statement, the late senator’s family explained that, “Our son, Michael Kashamu, had acted as a school father for the late Sylvester in his first session in the school.”
The family, however, clarified that Michael had ceased to be the “school father” of the deceased when he was allegedly bullied.
The late Senator Buruji Kashamu represented Ogun East in the eighth National Assembly.
There had been reports alleging that the 12-year-old boy Sylvester died mysteriously after he was tortured for refusing to join a cult group in the school.
Oromoni was reported dead on Wednesday, December 1 by a Twitter user, @perrisonoromoni, who is the deceased’s cousin.
According to @perrisonoromoni, the deceased was bullied and beaten by fellow students which led to his death.
However, Dowen College, in a statement, denied all allegations, stating that Oromoni only complained of body pains from playing football.
@perrisonoromoni subsequently put out photos and video evidence which showed the bruises on the deceased’s body.
The Lagos State Government, on December 3, announced the indefinite closure of Dowen College, Lekki, pending the outcome of an investigation into the boy’s death.
The family’s statement read, “The Kashamu family has been inundated with enquiries, calls and messages over the unfortunate incident at Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos, which led to the untimely death of Sylvester Oromoni, a 12-year-old student of the College.
“While we empathise and commiserate with the family of the late Sylvester Oromoni over the irreplaceable loss, we wish to appeal to all and sundry to hold their horses until the police and the Lagos State Government have completed their independent investigations and established the truth.
“Most commentators have rushed to conclusions based on assumptions and false information, including the allegation that our son, Adewale Michael Kashamu, was in any way involved in the bullying or beating of Sylvester Oromoni.
“Since the news of the unfortunate incident broke, we have made our own private enquiries and carefully questioned our son about his involvement. This is why we did not rush out to respond to the cyberstalking, name-calling and negative commentaries that have taken over the social media about our son’s alleged involvement in this sad incident.
“Some of the true facts now slowly emerging from under the mass of lies are that: Our son, Adewale Michael Kashamu, had acted as a school father for the late Sylvester in his first session in the school at the request of Sylvester’s sister who is also a student of the school.
“However, in the 2021 session commencing in September 2021, Adewale Michael Kashamu was moved to a different floor in the boarding house and engrossed in his own studies and activities, he was no longer as close to Sylvester as in the previous session.
