JSS1 student sues Ekiti Govt, seeks N15m damages

A JSS1 female student at Mary Immaculate Secondary School, Ado- Ekiti, Miss Gift Agenoisa, has sued the Ekiti Government before a state High Court, seeking N15m in damages for breach of fundamental human rights.

In a suit number HAD/01/CR/2021 and sworn to at the Ado-Ekiti High Court on her behalf by Mrs Odunayo Agenoisa, the student claimed that her suspension from school by the government infringed on her rights.

In the affidavit attached to the originating summons, the plaintiff claimed that she was singled out of school assembly on May 22, and given 20 lashes on the order of the school principal for “indecent hairstyle.”

The plaintiff described as “cruel and inhuman” the alleged treatment meted to her for coming to school with an “indecent hairstyle.”

Joined in the suit are the school principal, Mrs. Oluwasanmi F.M (first respondent), the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Olabimpe Aderiye (second respondent), the Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission (third respondent) and the Ekiti State Government (fourth respondent).

In her originating summons deposed to by her counsel, Mr. Timmy Omotoso, and brought pursuant to Order 2 rules 1,3,4,5 and 6 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules 2009 as preserved by Section 315 of the 1999 Constitution, the applicant demanded N15m damages for her suspension.

However, the plaintiff also demanded her immediate restoration back to school with unfettered access to all services being rendered therein, as she has been denied access to school premises and her class on the order of principal since then

The plaintiff claimed that the beating she got that day resulted in bruises, life-threatening scars and bloodstains on her uniform, adding that she fainted and was rushed to the Police clinic in Ado-Ekiti, where she was resuscitated.

She claimed further that her letters of protest to the wife of Ekiti State Governor and some relevant government agencies were not responded to, hence, her resort to legal redress.

According to the report, on May 22, the plaintiff’s father and a Police Sergeant, Elijah, allegedly mobilised four armed policemen to the school to manhandle some teachers for scolding his daughter who was said to have come to school with an “indecent hairdo” against the school rules and regulation.