Uche Owen, the proprietress of Cendom International Nursery and Primary School, Olodi-Apapa, has been ordered by Justice Yetunde Idowu of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, to pay N25m as damages to a five-year-old pupil of the school, Destiny Kalu after he was flogged for owing the school fee
Destiny, through his father, Inyima Kalu, had in 2013 sued Owen and his class teacher, Uduak Sam, for inflicting severe injuries on his right eye through flogging over the non-payment of his school fee.
According to his statement of claim, on June 20, 2011, Owen came to his classroom and flogged all the pupils who had yet to pay their school fees.
Destiny added that while being flogged, his right eye was covered in blood and he was left in tears for several hours unattended to.
It was learnt that Destiny was subsequently rushed to the Ajeromi General Hospital, Lagos, where he was treated and later referred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba.
It was gathered that the right eye was operated on without success at LUTH and the doctor’s report revealed that it was permanently damaged and could not perceive light as a result of severe damage.
Following the permanent injury sustained by Destiny, his father demanded N30m as compensation from the school.
However, in her statement to the police, Uduak admitted flogging the pupil on the instructions of Owen, while the proprietress denied being responsible for the injuries sustained by Destiny.
Delivering her judgment on Wednesday, Justice Idowu held the two defendants liable for the permanent injury sustained by the pupil and ordered the school owner to pay N25m to the victim as compensation.
