Family Of Late Premier Academy Student, Keren, Files N10bn Suit Against School, Seven Others For Negligence

Family of 14 year old Premier Academy Student, Miss Keren-Happuch Akpagher, who was allegedly raped and later died of complications, has filed a N10 billion suit against Premier Academy, and seven others for negligence and failure of duty.

Joined in the suite before an Abuja High Court are: Premiere Academy Ltd, Dr. Omotayo Akinfemiwa, Mr. M.K Osuma, AAGMR Ltd (represented by Akinsola Akinfemiwa), Premiere Eye Center Ltd (represented by Akinsola Akinfemiwa), Mr. Christopher Akinsowon, Mrs. Grace Salami and a Nurse, Lois Bung, as 1st to 8th defendants.

The plaintiff also prayed the court for “an order restraining the defendants by themselves, their agents and privies from threatening the plaintiff and her allies in respect of this suit, during and after the trial.”

The 14-year-old Keren died on June 22, 2021, after developing sepsis as a result of the infection caused by the condom left inside her by her rapist, which compromised her immunity, spiked her blood sugar and resulted to hyperglycaemia.

In a press conference organised in Abuja, Mrs Vivien, who is Keren’s mother, said all she expected was a school that is apologetic and takes responsibility for the rape and death of her child, stating that if they were honourable enough to do so, she would drop the matter.

She said despite her demand that the police retrieve CCTV footages of 15th and 16th of June 2021, which she believed would disclose how her daughter was sexually abused and the identity of her abuser, the defendants have chosen to obstruct justice by concealing the said footages.

“But the way they are going, if they are not ready to take responsibility, we shall see this case to the end, so that it doesn’t happen to another child,” she stated.

The plaintiff prayed the court for the following reliefs: “A declaration that the negligence of the defendants caused the plaintiff’s daughter, Keren–Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher, death on the 22nd day of June 2021.

“A declaration that the acts of the defendants, who owed the duty of care to the plaintiff’s daughter, were negligent and led to her death as a result of rape, sexual abuse and molestation which happened under their care.

“A declaration that the acts of the defendants who instructed the 8th defendant to administer dexamethasone (a steroid) on Keren–Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher exacerbated her underlining illness: “diabetes” and this led to her death.

“A declaration that the defendants’ failure to apprehend the perpetrator or allow the due process of the law to be carried out on time in order to fish out the perpetrator who is within their vicinity have intentionally inflicted the plaintiff with emotional distress, mental distress and nervous breakdown.”

She, therefore, prayed the court to award to her the sum of “N10 billion damages against the defendants for the breach of duty of care and negligence which led to the death of Keren–Happuch Aondodoo Akpagher.

“N10 million for emotional, mental, psychological and physical stress on the plaintiff, caused by the painful death of her daughter at the hands of the defendants who owed her duty of care and N10 million representing cost of litigation.”