A high court in Abuja has awarded a whopping N100 million for negligence which led to the death of a nine years old student, Kamzie Ifeanyi Ikpeatusim.
Her father, Mr Ifeanyi Ikpeatusim, had sued the school after the passing of his daughter.
The judge, Justice Sylvanus Oriji, ordered that 10 per cent interest be applied to the judgment sum from April 8 until full payment is made.
“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 court, therefore, awards N100 million against the defendants as general damages, with 10 per cent interest on the judgement sum from today, April 8, until the judgement sum is paid. In addition, the sum of N300,000 is awarded as the cost of the action,” the judge ruled.
The judge handed down the judgment against Louisville Girls Secondary School, Gwagwalada, for negligence of duty of care.
The plaintiff alleged that the school’s negligence of duty of care led to the death of his nine-year-old daughter, Kamzie, who fell ill just a few weeks following her admission into the school as a boarding student.
The late Kamzie was admitted to the school in September 2017, became severely ill by October 2, 2017, and tragically passed away a few days later.
Oriji held that the school’s negligence of duty of care was indeed responsible for the death of Kamzie.
According to the judge, evidence presented before the court showed that the deceased was not given adequate attention when she complained of illness.
While awarding costs against the school, Justice Oriji acknowledged that no amount of money could bring the deceased back to life.
Justice Oriji commended the school management for improvements made to its sick bay following the unfortunate death of Kamzie, highlighting that the introduction of doctors attending to students twice a day is commendable.
Responding to the relief sought by the bereaved father that a school structure be named in honour of Kamzie, the judge held that the father should take solace in the improvements made to the sick bay, which he described as honouring Kamzie’s memory.
“The court is of the opinion that this improvement is in honour of Kamzie, as part of reforms recommended by Kamzie’s family. The claimant should take solace in the fact that Kamzie has been honoured by the school through this improvement,” he said.
