Justice! Abuja School to Pay N100m for Child’s Death
A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Tuesday awarded N100 million in damages against Louisville Girls Secondary School, Gwagwalada, for negligence which led to the death of a student. Justice
Justice Sylvanus Oriji delivered a judgment in a suit brought by Mr. Ifeanyi Ikpeatusim, who alleged that the school had been negligent, which resulted in the death of his 9-year-old daughter, Kamzie.
In the suit marked CV/1738/18, Ikpeatusim claimed that the school’s negligence in failing to provide adequate medical care once Kamzie fell ill shortly after admission and resumption in the school resulted in her subsequent death.
Kamzie, having been admitted as a boarding student, became very ill by October 2, 2017, a few days prior to which she died.
Justice Sylvanus Oriji, while delivering judgment in the suit at the court, after awarding the N100 million cost, ordered that 10 percent interest on the judgment sum will run from April 8 until full payment.
He also awarded an additional N300,000 as costs of the suit.
Justice Oriji observed during the pronouncement of the judgment that the school had indeed, through its agents, acted negligently in failing to respond to Kamzie’s medical needs timely and adequately.
“The claimant established his allegations of negligence against the school. There is no amount of money that can bring back the child to life,” he stated.
Justice Oriji, however, acknowledged that an important consequence of this lawsuit was that the sickbay was improved after the incident.
He commended the arrangement whereby doctors attended students twice daily.
While the claimant sought an order from the court for the naming of one of the buildings on the school premises in honour of Kamzie, Justice Oriji took the view that the improvements to the sickbay were sufficiently indicative that the school was taking steps to remediate the mistake.
“The court thinks that the improvement in the sickbay, ensuring doctors are available twice daily, is in honour of Kamzie, as part of reforms recommended by her family,” he said.
“The claimant should take solace in the fact that Kamzie has been honoured by the school through these improvements.”
Reactions
Common sense should have told the proprietor to take her immediately to the hospital. Nigerians only like to harvest without working. Why should a little child in your care just die like that barely a month. What happened to contacting the parents… Taking her to a hospital.
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