Court Awards N100 Million in Damages to Family of Deceased Student
An Abuja High Court has awarded N100 million in general damages against Louisville Girls Secondary School, Gwagwalada, for negligence that led to the death of a student, Kamzie Ikpeatusim, in 2017.
Background of the Case
A suit filed by the father of the deceased, Ifeanyi Ikpeatusim, had accused the school of negligence of duty of care which resulted in the death of his nine-year-old daughter, Kamzie. In the suit marked CV/1738/18, Mr Ikpeatusim alleged that the school’s failure to provide adequate medical attention after Kamzie fell ill shortly after her admission led to her untimely death. Kamzie was admitted as a boarding student in September 2017 and became severely ill by October 2. She died a few days later.
Judgment and Ruling
Delivering his judgment, Justice Sylvanus Oriji held that the evidence presented clearly showed the school and its agents acted negligently by failing to attend promptly and adequately 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,” the judge ruled. The court awarded N100 million as general damages and ordered a 10 percent interest on the judgment sum from April 8 until full payment, while an additional N300,000 was awarded as the cost of the suit.
Reforms and Improvements
Justice Oriji noted that one significant outcome of the case was the improvement of the school’s sickbay following the incident. He said that the presence of doctors attending to students twice daily was a commendable development. The claimant requested that a school structure be named in honour of Kamzie. Mr Oriji said: “The court is of the opinion 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. The claimant should take solace in the fact that Kamzie has been honoured by the school through these improvements.”
Conclusion
The ruling highlights the importance of schools taking their duty of care seriously, especially when it comes to the health and wellbeing of their students. The improvements made to the school’s sickbay and the presence of doctors attending to students twice daily are a step in the right direction. While no amount of money can bring back the deceased student, the court’s judgment serves as a reminder to schools to prioritize the safety and health of their students.
FAQs
- Q: How much was awarded to the family of the deceased student?
- A: The court awarded N100 million in general damages to the family of the deceased student.
- Q: What was the cause of the student’s death?
- A: The student, Kamzie Ikpeatusim, died due to the school’s negligence in providing adequate medical attention after she fell ill.
- Q: What improvements have been made to the school’s sickbay?
- A: The school has improved its sickbay, and doctors now attend to students twice daily.
- Q: Did the court order any other compensation besides the general damages?
- A: Yes, the court ordered a 10 percent interest on the judgment sum from April 8 until full payment and awarded an additional N300,000 as the cost of the suit.
