FCT Court Orders N100m Compensation Against School Over 9-Year-Old’s Death

An FCT High Court in Abuja has awarded N100 million in damages against Louisville Girls Secondary School, Gwagwalada, for negligence leading to the death of 9-year-old boarding student, Kamzie Ikpeatusim.

Justice Sylvanus Oriji, delivering judgment on Tuesday, held that the school failed in its duty of care by delaying medical attention, which resulted in the child’s death.

The case, filed by Kamzie’s father, Ifeanyi Ikpeatusim, alleged that the school did not respond appropriately when Kamzie fell ill in October 2017, just a month after resuming. The court also granted an additional N300,000 in litigation costs and ordered a 10% annual interest on the judgment sum from April 8 until full payment.

While rejecting a request to rename a school structure in Kamzie’s memory, Justice Oriji acknowledged reforms made to the school’s sickbay, including the appointment of doctors to attend to students twice daily—an effort he described as a tribute to Kamzie.