Abuja, Nigeria – April 8, 2025
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Abuja has awarded the sum of ₦100 million in damages against a private secondary school over the tragic death of one of its students, citing gross negligence on the part of the school’s management.
The judgment was delivered on Monday, following a suit filed by the grieving parents who alleged that the school failed to provide adequate care and supervision, leading to the untimely death of their child.
In his ruling, the presiding judge held that the school owed a duty of care to its students and failed in that responsibility. He described the school’s actions as “reckless and negligent,” emphasizing that the life of every student must be treated with utmost seriousness and responsibility.
According to court documents, the student, whose name is being withheld out of respect for the family’s privacy, reportedly fell ill and did not receive prompt medical attention from the school authorities. The delay allegedly worsened the situation, resulting in the student’s death.
The ₦100 million compensation is to be paid to the family as general and punitive damages, aimed at serving both as relief and a deterrent to other institutions.
Legal experts have described the ruling as a landmark decision that could influence future cases involving duty of care in Nigerian schools.
The school has yet to issue an official statement on the verdict, and it remains unclear whether it intends to appeal the judgment.
