Miss. Namtira Bwala, the student who was bullied by some students at the Lead British International School, Abuja, has sued the school after all peace talks failed.
Recall that activist Deji Adeyanju, who took up the case, wrote to the school demanding an immediate investigation and severe sanctions against Miss Maryam Hassan, Miss Faliya and nine other students.
A statement signed by Barrister Marvin Omorogbe, for Deji Adeyanju and Partners on Monday, notified the public on the commencement of legal proceedings against the school “for negligent conduct in Ms. Namtira Bwala’s incident.”
It added that the case was filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and seeks N500m damages against the school for failing in its obligation to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for our client.
The statement further noted that their client hopes that the lawsuit will bring about drastic changes and adequate measures to prevent a recurrence of similar issues in the school.
“We are Solicitors to Ms. Namtira Bwala (hereinafter referred to as our client) on whose instruction we hereby notify the general public of the fact that our client has instituted a civil suit against Lead British International School, Gwarimpa, Abuja, following the viral video released on the internet a few weeks ago where our client was seen being bullied by her fellow students.
“The lawsuit with case number FCT/HC/CV/2341/24: MISS NAMTIRA BWALA v LEAD BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL LTD was filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and seeks damages against Lead British International School, Gwarimpa, Abuja, for failing in its obligation to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for our client.
“Our client hopes that this lawsuit will bring about drastic changes and adequate measures to prevent a reoccurrence of similar issues in the school,” the statement said.
Recall that the school has instituted an investigation into the incident. The report of which the victim’s family said was u satisfactory.
In the letter written and addressed to the victim’s parents, Mr and Mrs. Daniel Bwala, dated Friday May 3 and obtained by NewsNGR, the school asked Namtira to school on Monday, May 6, 2024.
The letter which was signed by Head of School, Abraham Ogunkanmbi expressed hope that after she is back to school, she will become a good ambassador and remain in good conduct in the school.
“I am directed by the Board and management of Lead British International School, Abuja to inform you that your daughter, Namtira Bwala should resume back to school on Monday, 6th May, 2024.
“She is expected to resume in the office of the Head of School for a brief. The Guidance Counselor will commence counseling sessions with her on Monday as detailed in the letter given to you from the Counseling Department.
“I hope that upon return to school, your daughter, Namtira Bwala will be of good behavior by becoming an ambassador of peace and good conduct in school,” the letter stated in part.
The letter did not however mention any disciplinary action for any of the students.
Dissatisfied with the school’s resolution, the claimant approached the court to enforce her right to safety.
In the court papers obtained by NewsNGR, the student said the school owes her “a duty of care to protect” her from “any physical or emotional harm as well as any breach of her privacy” while under its custody and supervision.
According to the court paper, the claimant asserts that the school’s “failure to prevent the assault, torment, emotional distress, pain and trauma suffered” by her while under its “custody and supervision amounts to negligent conduct.”
She argued that the school’s “failure to immediately inform” her parents of “the assault and emotional trauma she suffered” while under its “custody and supervision amounts to negligent conduct”.
She claimed that the school’s failure to cause an immediate investigation into the physical assault and emotional trauma suffered by her while under its Custody and supervision, until the video of the incident became viral on social media, amounts to negligent conduct.
She therefore prayed the court to direct the school to issue a public apology in two national daily newspapers, and to pay her N500m “as general damages for breach of duty of care it owes to her and its negligent conduct in failing to prevent the assault, torment, emotional distress, pain, trauma and breach of privacy suffered by her while under the school’s custody and supervision”.
The claimant, who said she has her father’s written consent to institute the action is also demanding N5m as cost of the suit.