Court Orders Abuja School to Pay N100 Million in Damages Over Student’s Death

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has awarded N100 million in general damages against Louisville Girls Secondary School, Gwagwalada, for negligence that led to the death of a student.

Mr. Ifeanyi Ikpeatusim filed the suit after the death of his 9-year-old daughter, Kamzie, who passed away following the school’s failure to provide timely medical attention. Kamzie was admitted as a boarding student in September 2017 but fell seriously ill by October 2, 2017, and died shortly thereafter.

In the suit marked CV/1738/18, Ikpeatusim claimed that the school’s negligence in not providing adequate medical care after Kamzie’s illness directly resulted in her untimely death.

Justice Sylvanus Oriji, delivering judgment, awarded the N100 million damages and instructed that 10 percent interest be added to the amount from April 8 until full payment is made. The court also awarded an additional N300,000 for the cost of the suit.

Justice Oriji emphasized that the evidence presented clearly showed that the school and its agents had acted negligently by failing to respond appropriately and promptly to Kamzie’s medical needs.

“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 acknowledged the improvement in Louisville Girls Secondary School’s sickbay following the incident, noting that one significant outcome of the case was the school’s effort to enhance its medical facilities.

He commended the school for having doctors attend to students twice daily, describing it as a positive development.

While the claimant, Mr. Ifeanyi Ikpeatusim, had requested that the court order the school to name one of its structures after his late daughter, Kamzie, in her honor, Justice Oriji observed that the improvements made to the sickbay were sufficient to show that the school was taking steps to correct its previous mistakes.

This, he concluded, was a form of making amends for the negligence that led to Kamzie’s death.