Justice Yetunde Idowu of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, on Wednesday, directed the proprietress of Cendom International Nursery and Primary School, Olodi-Apapa, Uche Owen, 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 had in 2013, through his father, Inyima Kalu, dragged 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.
On June 20, 2011, Owen was said to have come to his classroom and flogged all the pupils who had yet to pay their school fees.
According to Destiny, while being flogged, his right eye was covered in blood and he was left in tears for several hours unattended to.
It was gathered 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.
READ ALSO: Pupil narrates how Lagos teacher made her perform oral sex for marks
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 medical verdict of permanent injury, his father demanded N30m as compensation from the school.
In her statement to the police, the class teacher admitted flogging the pupil on the instructions of Owen, but the proprietress denied being responsible for the injuries sustained by Destiny.
In her ruling 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.