The family of Qudus Akinsemoyin, a former student of Model College Badore who lost vision in his left eye following a violent act of corporal punishment by a senior student, has intensified pressure on the Lagos State Attorney-General to comply with a court judgment awarding the victim N20 million in damages.
The incident occurred on July 3, 2010, when Olashile Balogun, then a senior student at the school located in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, struck Qudus, a junior student at the time, in the eye with a cane. The assault resulted in permanent blindness in his left eye.
Legal Battle and Court Ruling
Qudus filed a lawsuit through his guardian, Alhaja Kuburat Ajoke Azeez-Akinsemoyin. After years of legal proceedings, Justice O.F. Aigbokhaevbo ruled in favor of the victim, condemning the senior student's actions and criticizing the failure of school authorities to maintain a safe learning environment.
"Discipline of students should be carried out by the school authority and not by a fellow student," the judge stated. "Any form of discipline that results in serious injury, particularly damage to a person's eye, is excessive and a breach of the duty of care."
The court found Model College Badore, the Lagos State Ministry of Education, and the Attorney-General jointly liable for negligence, ruling that they had failed to fulfill their duty of care towards the student.
Damages Awarded
The judgment included:
- N20 million as general compensation
- N27,150 as special damages for medical expenses
- N200,000 in litigation costs
Medical evidence from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) confirmed permanent blindness in Qudus's left eye, supporting the court's decision.
In a formal letter to the Attorney-General, legal representative Barrister Bode Olaosebikan, acting on behalf of the Akinsemoyin family, urged the Lagos State Government to enforce the judgment, noting that it remains unchallenged.
"This is not just about compensation," said Barrister Olaosebikan. "It's about acknowledging the life-altering harm done to a child under the care of a state-run school and upholding the rule of law."
The case highlights ongoing concerns about student safety in educational institutions and the responsibility of school authorities to prevent peer-to-peer violence.
Despite calls for further medical evaluation by the defendants during the trial, the court expressed concern over their failure to follow through on the initial medical recommendations.
The family continues to seek full enforcement of the judgment and accountability from the state as they deal with the permanent consequences of the incident.
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