FCT school: We didn’t deny mother of pupil who died from ‘condom infection’ custody

The management of Premiere Academy, Lugbe in Abuja, says the mother of the 14-year-old student who died after she was allegedly abused sexually was “not denied custody of the sick daughter at any point”.

The student passed away on June 21 after being hospitalised.

Vihimga Akpagher, the deceased’s mother, had alleged that she died from an infection after a condom was found in her private parts.

Vihimga had also said that her late daughter called her to complain about illness and requested that she should come and pick her from the school.

She claimed the school had initially asked her not to bother but she had to pick the teenager on June 19 after the girl insisted on going home.

In its reaction on Saturday, Premiere Academy alleged that it did not refuse Vihimga custody of her child but had to follow due process.

According to a statement by Chris Akinsowon, the school principal, Premiere Academy could not grant Vihimga’s request at the hospital “because the due procedure for releasing a student had not been completed.”

He also said that the school has commenced an internal investigation on the matter.

Akinsowon added that the school would continue to cooperate with the police on the ongoing investigation aimed at unraveling the circumstances that led to the teenager’s death.

“The school did not refuse to grant the mother of the deceased custody of the sick daughter at any point,” the statement read.

“On the issue of the release of her to the mother at the ophthalmologist’s clinic where she requested for her, the official of the school (nurse), who accompanied the student could not release her to the mother at the hospital because the due procedure for releasing a student had not been completed. After they got to the school, an exeat was processed and she was released to her mother.

“The school has commenced internal investigation on the circumstances surrounding her death. No stone will be left unturned in our quest to get to the root of this matter as a school and parents to find the real cause of the unfortunate demise of my dear daughter and further forestall such incidence in the future.

“As an institution, the safety and security of our student are most paramount to us including their protection against sexual assaults of any type and kind in our school.

“In the light of this incident, we have honoured the invitation from the Nigerian Police investigating the case surrounding her death, where we cooperated with them and stated our commitment in assisting them in their quest to unravel the controversies.”

Meanwhile, an autopsy was requested by the police as part of the ongoing investigation.

But according to Dele Onakoya, a spokesman of the school, the autopsy which was supposed to take place on Saturday was stalled due to the absence of the family doctor of the deceased.