“No Amount Can Bring Back The Child”: Court Orders Louisville School To Pay N100M For Fatal Negligence

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

Justice Sylvanus Oriji, delivering judgment in the suit brought by the complainant, Mr. Ifeanyi Ikpeatusim, who sued the school over the death of his 9-year-old daughter, Kamzie, ordered a 10 percent interest on the judgment sum from April 8 until full payment. He also awarded an additional N300,000 as the cost of the suit.

In the suit marked CV/1738/18, Ikpeatusim alleged that the school’s failure to provide adequate medical attention after Kamzie fell ill shortly after her admission and resumption at the school led to her untimely death.

Kamzie was admitted as a boarding student in September 2017. She became severely ill on October 2 and died a few days later.

Justice Oriji, while delivering the court’s decision, 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,” he stated.

The judge, however, acknowledged that one significant outcome of the case was the improvement of the school’s sickbay following the incident. He noted that the presence of doctors attending to students twice daily was a commendable development.

While the claimant had asked the court to order the school to name one of its structures after Kamzie in her honour, Justice Oriji ruled that the improvements made to the sickbay were sufficient recognition.

“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,” he added.