Bullied student sues Lead British International School for N500m

Namitra Bwala, the student whose recent ordeal of bullying by fellow students went viral in a video, has taken legal action against Lead British International School, Gwarimpa, Abuja. Initiated on Monday, the lawsuit, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory under case number FCT/HC/CV/2341/24: MISS NAMTIRA BWALA v LEAD BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL LTD, seeks redress for the alleged failure of the educational institution to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for the plaintiff.

On April 22, videos surfaced online, posted by a user named #mooyeeeeeee, revealing the distressing incident of a female student from Lead British International School being subjected to bullying by her peers. In one video, the victim was repeatedly slapped by another female student while being interrogated about a broken relationship. Another clip showed her sitting beside a male classmate who claimed responsibility for sabotaging her relationship.

The legal proceedings, as per a public statement issued on Monday by Marvin Omorogbe, the founding partner of the law firm representing Bwala, aim to hold the school accountable for its alleged negligence in handling the highly publicized incident. The lawsuit demands damages and an apology from the defendant through publication in national newspapers.

The lawsuit requests an order for the defendant to pay N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) as general damages for breach of duty of care and negligent conduct resulting in the assault, torment, emotional distress, pain, trauma, and breach of privacy suffered by the claimant while under the school’s custody and supervision.

The law firm underscores its client’s aspiration that the legal action will spur meaningful reforms and ensure adequate measures are in place to prevent similar incidents within the school. The statement expresses hope that the lawsuit will prompt the implementation of necessary changes to prevent a recurrence of such issues. The viral video sparked widespread outrage and condemnation, raising serious concerns about the school’s ability to safeguard the safety and well-being of its students.