The two suspects detained in connection with the death of three-year-old Ifeanyi Adeleke, son of Davido and his fiancée, Chioma Rowland, may be held in police custody until an autopsy report clears them.
A credible source told PUNCH Metro on Wednesday that the nanny and cook were directly in charge of Ifeanyi's welfare, and that they could be held liable for negligence.
"The cook and the nanny were the ones directly with the child, so they are guilty of negligence until the autopsy," the source said. We have suspects during the investigation, and depending on the case, the suspects may or may not be released.
"So far, the family has not objected to the autopsy, but how quickly it is completed is dependent on the hospital." However, the next step is to examine the house's CCTV."
PUNCH According to Metro, Ifeanyi's body was recovered from the swimming pool at his father's home in Lagos State's Banana Island area and was taken to a mortuary for autopsy.
Following that, the police summoned eight domestic workers, six of whom were released after questioning.
Two others, however, were detained: the nanny and the cook.
When contacted for a follow-up response, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the suspects' detention but declined to provide further details to avoid jeopardizing the investigation.
"If we need to detain them for longer than necessary, we will obtain a court order to ensure that we are not engaging in overdetention or illegal detention," he said.
"I can't go into too much detail about an ongoing investigation, but those two people who have been detained are assisting us in our investigation." Those who have been released have little or no relevance to the case, but the two people who have been detained are assisting us.
"Eight people were brought in for questioning, six were allowed to leave, and the remaining two were placed under arrest, making them suspect."
The Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria's spokesperson, Asha Gangali, described Ifeanyi's death as "devastating news," and urged the state government to review the laws granting people in the state ownership of swimming pools.
"So, from a legal standpoint, it will be binding on all. Not only are we losing our precious children in the creative and movie industries, but it also affects everyone else. If people have a swimming pool in their home, precautions should be taken to avoid such incidents."
Remember that in 2018, Daniel, the first son of another musician, Dapo Adebanjo, aka D banj, drowned in a swimming pool at his Lagos home.
"We would rather enjoin the Lagos State Government to reconsider the permission granted for swimming pools and certain structures in residential areas that can endanger the lives of minors," Gangali said.
