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Sylvester Oromoni Death – Dowen College Student’s Alleged Murder Story So Far

Sylvester Oromoni

A 12-year old student of Dowen College, Lekki, Sylvester Oromoni has joined the growing list of victims who have lost their lives tragically due to alleged bullying at school. The sad event has left Nigerians recalling similar occurrences that have happened in recent times many of which have been discovered to still be without a justifiable conclusion. The hashtag #JusticeFor Sylvester has trended on social media since the tragic news of his passing broke as Nigerians passionately lend their voices to the cause to ensure that justice is served and the alleged perpetrators are brought to the book.

Perrison Oromoni Broke The News

The sad news of Oromoni’s passing first broke on Wednesday, the 1st of December 2021, when a Twitter user with the handle, @perrisonoronomi who claimed to be a cousin of the deceased took to his Twitter account to post that Sylvester Oromini had died as a result of injuries sustained from beatings he had received from a group of boys in his school Dowen College.

Alongside a photo of Oromoni, the handler wrote that his cousin had been beaten to death in a school that cost over a million naira per year. He revealed further details including a video showing Sylvester Oromini in excruciating pain, unable to walk with a bloodied mouth. He explained that Oromoni had been severely beaten because of his refusal to join a cult group. Perrison added that the results of an X-ray carried out on Sylvester Oromoni showed that he had internal injuries.

The post immediately went viral and prompted a response from the management of Dowen College who put out an official statement the following day, the 2nd of December 2021, refuting Perrison Oromoni’s claims as “social media tales” and claiming that the deceased Sylvester Oromoni’s passing was due to complications from injuries he sustained while playing football. A conclusion they claimed to have come to after speaking to the boy in the presence of his guardian. The school authorities added that the school had “effective anti-bullying policies and consequences are well spelled out to all the students” while concluding that the claims made by the social media user came as a shock to them.

The Management of Dowen College Refute The Claims

The statement released from the school management reads thus;

“He was in class on Monday 22nd day of November 2021, but during school hours one of his friends accompanied him to the Sick Bay where he complained of some pain in his hip. The doctor examined him and prescribed Ibuprofen for the pain, while the nurse massaged his leg, after which he felt a bit better.

In accordance with school policy, the resident doctor called his mother reporting the incident and requesting that she come for him so that he could get further medical attention. The mother however said she was not in Lagos, spoke and prayed with him on the phone, and promised to send the guardian to pick him up immediately for further medical attention.

When the guardian failed to show up, the next day on the 23rd of November 2021, the doctor called the mother again and this time, she assured that his guardian would pick him from school. His guardian showed up and took him for an X-ray after which the guardian informed the school management that the results of the investigation revealed that no part of his body was broken or injured. The resident doctor also called the mother later in the week to check up on his progress but she informed the doctor that he was sleeping at the time.”

The school management in their statement also added that the school Principal made time to call Sylvester Oromoni’s mother to check on him and that “she reported that he was having a massage and gave the phone to him to speak with the Principal.”

In conclusion, the management said that;

“As a result, it came as no small shock to us to read wild social media tales that he was beaten by some students and that he specifically mentioned some names. We immediately commenced investigations and invited the students allegedly mentioned for interview. His guardian was also present during the interviews, which revealed that nothing of such happened.

The whole incident was strange and unbelievable because: The school has effective anti-bullying policies and consequences are well spelt out to all the students. The preliminary investigation showed that there was no fighting, bullying, or any form of attack on the boy.”

The Deceased’s Father, Slyvester Oromoni Snr Speaks Up!

With the public seeking more answers, the deceased’s father, Sylvester Oromoni who shares the same name as his late son spoke up with more details of what had led to his son’s death in an exclusive interview with TheCable.

He revealed that his son had been bullied constantly at school and on one occasion, one of the boys whom his son mentioned on his death bed as one of those who beat him up, forcefully took his food items from him. Oromoni Snr said that the previous incident had been reported to school authorities at the time. The school did temporarily suspend the boy after Oromoni’s elder brother took the matter up, his hostel was changed, however, the bullying never ceased.

Oromoni Snr revealed that because of past occurrences, his son lived in fear and when he was asked to explain further what he was going through he would simply dismiss the question by saying “they will kill me.”

His dad added; “this way, we didn’t know what to do. I considered removing him; reconsidered since his sisters were still in the school.”

“I have two daughters; one of whom earlier graduated.” Oromoni’s father narrated. “I had to remove the second after this incident. They asked this boy to describe the sister’s privates and this got to us.”

Giving more details on what led to his son’s death, Oromoni Snr said that his son was fed with a poisonous chemical and intimidated to keep mute lest he’d be killed.

The deceased father also refuted some of the claims made by the school authority in their initial statement, pointing out that what occurred when his guardian came to pick him up was completely different from what the school recounted in their official statement.

Sylvester Oromoni’s Father’s Account

“The new incident came to my knowledge on November 21 after the school called my wife to notify us that our son was in the school clinic, injured.

My senior son, who was to make a London trip, came to see us in Warri. “The next day, we sent a family friend to help pick up our son since he was the only person in Lagos and take him to the hospital.

When he got there, he panicked, pointing out that he doubts it’s a football injury as the school claimed. He said the boy couldn’t stand because his waist was bent and swollen along with one side of his belly.

His mouth was black. I asked, ‘is this really a football injury?’ He was taken to my house in Lagos but couldn’t sleep at night.

I asked my eldest to fly to Lagos on November 24, while I took a trip to Asaba, from where I’d also make for Lagos. On getting there, he screamed. ‘This is beyond football injury. Come to Lagos now,’ he told me over the phone.”

Sylvester Oromoni passed away a few days to what would have been his 12th year birthday. In his interview, his father promised that he was going to celebrate his son’s birthday even in his absence and he did.

Celebrities also took to social media, celebrating the late boy’s posthumous birthday.

Sylvester Oromoni

Sylvester Oromoni’s family celebrating their son’s posthumous birthday

Reactions From Social Media

Social media was taken to a whole new level of rage following new details from Sylvester Oromoni’s family. One user, a popular YouTuber by the name SisiYemmie said that parents who had their wards in the school should immediately withdraw their wards as a form of protest.

 

Comedian, Mr. Macaroni (@mrmacaronii:) wrote;

“I deeply sympathise with the family of Sylvester Oromoni. I Just saw the video that was recorded before he died. He couldn’t move, mouth swollen, teeth bleeding. Football injuries don’t cause that much pain!!! Dowen college, there are a lot of questions begging to be answered.”

Police Promises To Deliver Justice

On the 4th of December 2021, the police released a statement via their spokesperson Adekunle Ajisebutu, saying that investigations had begun on the case, though they had not formally received a report of the incident.

“The Command wishes to inform the public that, although no formal report of the incident was made to the police, the Commissioner of Police, upon hearing about it instantly directed the Divisional Police Officer, Maroko Division under whose jurisdiction the place of incident is to immediately visit the school to carry out an initial investigation into the incident,” the statement read.

The statement also added that the case, due to its severity had been taken over by the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti.

While on his death bed, Sylvester Oromoni mustered the courage to mumble the names of those who beat him up. They are;

  1. Michael Kashamu
  2. Angel Temile
  3. Favour Benjamin
  4. Edward Brown
  5. Agboro Emmanuel

The public was able to identify one of the suspects, Michael Kashamu as the son of late Senator Buruju Kahamu who for years was wanted in the US for drug-related crimes. The notorious drug runner passed away in 2020. It has been established by the public that upon Michael’s naming by the deceased, his family flew him abroad to ensure his safety.

Read Also: #EndSARS: Lagos Judicial Panel Finally Submits Report One Year After

Late Sylvester Oromoni with parents

Lagos State Government Shuts Down Dowen College

The Lagos State Government has ordered that Dowen College be shut down indefinitely. The announcement came following a meeting between the school’s management and the Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisayo.

“The Lagos State Government has ordered the indefinite closure of Dowen College, Lekki, pending the outcome of an investigation into the death of Sylvester Oromoni Jnr, a student of the school,” a statement from the ministry said.

The statement added that the “Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo announced the closure after a meeting with the School Management and Staff. The Commissioner called for calm, saying no effort will be spared in getting to the root of the incident.”

The announcement from the ministry comes after Dowen College had announced a two-day break on Friday the 3rd and Monday the 6th of December.

Past Similar Occurrences

The news of Sylvester Oromoni’s bullying and death was not a strange incident to the Nigerian airwaves as similar occurrences seemed to have been on the rise. Some of which still sadly remain without justice being served. In mid-2021, news emerged of the death of a 14-year old boy in a school in Abuja with hazy details of the cause of death.

Around that same period, a 14-year-old student of Premiere Academy Lugbe, Abuja, named Ms Keren Akpagher died due to sepsis after a used condom was found inside her. She was molested by her teacher. The school pushed back allegations of sexual harassment and the perpetrator is yet to be punished. The mother, however, remains relentless and continues to call for help in order to seek justice for her dead daughter.

Investigative journalist David Hundeyin was able to uncover that the reason why the case has been swept under the carpet was that the school is owned by the influential and powerful Akinsola Akinfemiwa, who is the former CEO of Skype Bank and Chairman of Heritage Bank.

Hundeyin was also able to uncover that “Premiere Academy hired the public relations arm of marketing giant, CenterSpreadGrey to distort the public story with sponsored articles.”

A case more similar to Oromoni’s occurred back in 2020 at Deeper Life High School, Uyo, Akwa Ibom state where an 11-year-old student was sodomized and starved by senior students as punishment for bedwetting. Thankfully, the young boy made it out alive. The case has since been in court.

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Business

Dangote Refinery opens landmark IPO today to the investing public

Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE today announced the commencement of its Initial Public Offering (IPO), marking a historic milestone in Nigeria’s economic development and the evolution of Africa’s capital markets. The offer will be formally launched at a ceremony on the trading floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) in Lagos, bringing to the public, for the first time, an opportunity to own a stake in Africa’s largest refinery and one of the world’s most significant industrial projects.

The IPO, which opens today, September 14, 2026, consists of 4.1 billion new ordinary shares offered at N525 per share, with a minimum subscription of 10 shares valued at N5,250. The offer is expected to remain open until October 13, 2026, subject to the terms outlined in the Prospectus. The transaction is targeted at retail, institutional, and eligible African investors, reinforcing Dangote Refinery’s commitment to broadening ownership and deepening participation in Nigeria’s capital market.

The public offer is expected to raise approximately N2.15 trillion, making it one of the largest equity offerings ever undertaken in Africa. The proceeds will support the Refinery’s long-term growth plans, operational expansion, strategic investments, and the creation of additional value for shareholders and stakeholders alike.

Speaking on the significance of the IPO, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, said: “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Dangote Refinery and, indeed, in the economic future of our nation. This offering is about more than raising capital; it is about creating an opportunity for ordinary Nigerians, Africans, and investors across the globe to participate directly in one of the most transformative industrial projects ever built on the continent. We established this refinery to transform Africa’s energy landscape, create jobs, conserve foreign exchange, and unlock shared prosperity. With this IPO, we are extending that vision by democratising ownership and ensuring that millions of people can benefit from the value being created.

“We believe that broad-based ownership is one of the most effective ways to build wealth, strengthen the capital market, and accelerate economic inclusion. We invite investors to join us as partners in building a globally competitive enterprise that will continue to shape the future of energy, manufacturing, and economic development in Africa.”

According to Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Exchange Group: “The launch of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery IPO is an important moment for Nigeria’s capital market, not simply because of the scale of the transaction, but because of what it represents.

“Our capital market must increasingly become a place where Nigerians can participate in the value created by our country’s most important businesses. That means broadening ownership, expanding access and creating stronger connections between Nigerian enterprise and Nigerian capital.

“At NGX Group, we have been deliberately building the infrastructure to make that possible. Through NGX Invest and connectivity across more than 50 distribution channels, including stockbrokers, banks and fintechs, we are making participation in the public market more accessible.

“This is how we build an ownership economy: strong Nigerian businesses accessing long-term capital, and more Nigerians having the opportunity to participate in their growth.”

Dangote Refinery has emerged as a strategic national asset, helping to strengthen energy security, reduce dependence on imported refined products, conserve foreign exchange, and position Nigeria as a major exporter of petroleum products. Since commencing commercial operations, the Refinery has supplied premium-quality petroleum products to domestic and international markets while supporting industrial growth and economic transformation across the region.

The company emphasised that participation in the offer has been designed to be accessible, transparent, and technology-enabled. Eligible investors can subscribe through approved distribution channels, including NGX Invest, designated commercial banks, and authorised investment platforms, subject to the provisions contained in the Prospectus.

As the commencement ceremony takes place on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange today, Dangote Refinery reaffirmed its commitment to operational excellence, corporate governance, sustainable growth, and long-term value creation for shareholders.

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Business

Chowdeck CEO says some drivers make at least ₦100,000 weekly, more than some doctors

Chowdeck CEO Femi Aluko said the average rider makes at least ₦100,000 a week from deliveries, with top-performing riders earning considerably more. Riding around Lagos to deliver food may seem like a simple hustle, but Chowdeck CEO Femi Aluko says the job can bring in considerably more than many people might expect.

In a Channels Television interview, Aluko said the average Chowdeck rider makes at least ₦100,000 a week, while the best-performing riders can earn considerably more. That would amount to about ₦400,000 over four weeks, but it is not a fixed salary or guaranteed monthly income.

According to Aluko, earnings depend largely on the number of deliveries a rider completes and the distance covered. He said riders could work for about 10 hours a day and complete around 10 to 15 deliveries, with more deliveries and longer distances potentially increasing their earnings.

The claim is not entirely out of line with accounts from riders. Recent reporting has found riders taking home roughly ₦80,000 to ₦120,000 a week, while some high performers have earned considerably more during particularly busy periods.

But those figures should be viewed as gross earnings rather than a guaranteed take-home salary. Aluko also acknowledged that riders have costs to deal with, including bicycle maintenance, even though maintaining a bicycle is cheaper than maintaining a power bike.

During the interview, the presenter mentioned a previous report suggesting that ride-hailing drivers could earn more than doctors.

Aluko agreed that this could happen, although he noted that the work also comes with additional costs.

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Business

You can now buy fuel on your phone and pump it yourself at selected NNPC stations

Select NNPC outlets will soon start allowing customers to pump their own fuel. The company is introducing a self-service option which allows customers at designated retail stations to pay for their own fuel through their mobile devices and dispense it themselves, instead of giving cash to an attendant.

NNPC Retail introduced the system with its new Smart Self-Service Station on Bill Clinton Drive, Airport Road, Abuja, on September 10, 2026. To use the self-service, customers will select how much fuel they want to buy through the NR fuel app, pay for the fuel, receive a code and use that code at the pump to start fuelling their vehicle.For drivers who have never used a self-service petrol station before, however, the process may take some getting used to.

The NR fuel app is the backbone of the entire process, as Customers will need it to use NNPC Retail’s digital fuelling system. The app is available on major mobile app stores, including the Google Play Store for Android phones and the App Store for iPhones, and allows customers to make fuel purchases digitally.

Once you’ve downloaded the app, you can go ahead to buy your fuel digitally; however, you cannot simply walk into any NNPC station and expect to use the self-service system because the service is currently available at selected stations. The pilot Smart Self-Service Station in Abuja, for instance, is one of the designated outlets. For ease of use, open the app, click on the dashboard, select a product, and click on ‘nearby station ‘.

You will find a list of selected stations near you that support the self-service options. Look for the distinct green “SELF-SERVE” badge next to a station’s name in the app to confirm they support the feature.

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