Human rights activist Deji Adeyanju has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Lead British International School in Abuja to sanction students who bullied Miss Namtira Bwala.
Adeyanju, through his law firm, Adeyanju and Partners, charged the school to issue the ‘stiffest' possible sanctions in the student's rule book on those who have formed themselves into ‘a cult of bullies' in the school or face legal action.
A viral video had surfaced online of Bwala being physically bullied and assaulted by her classmate, Maryam Hassan.
In the footage, Namtira was slapped and bullied by Maryam while being asked, “Who broke my heart?”
In another video, the female student was interrogated and slapped repeatedly by her classmate.
In the letter addressed to the head of the school, dated April 23, 2024, and signed by Marvin Omorogbe, the law firm regretted that such maltreatment could be meted out to a student under the watchful eyes of the school authority.
The letter copied to the FCT Police Commissioner is titled, “Demand for Immediate Investigation and Severe Sanctions Against Miss Maryam Hassan, Miss Faliya and Nine Other Students of Lead British International School, Gwarimpa, Abuja, for Assault, Battery and Bullying.”
The firm said: “Sadly, rather than address this issue head-on by imposing severe sanctions on the student bullies, the school has issued a timid statement lacking in force or recognition of the severity of the situation at hand.
“We are solicitors to Miss Namtira Bwala (acting through her next friend), hereinafter referred to as our client, on whose instruction we act.
“You will recall that in a viral video posted on the internet on April 22, 2024, our client, who is a student of Lead British International School, Gwarimpa, was seen being pummelled, humiliated and bullied by a notorious group of student bullies in the school, led by a certain Miss Maryam Hassan and Ms Faliya.
“Our client and several other parents in Lead British International School have informed us and we verily believe them, that this act of bullying is a reoccurring issue in the school, and despite several attempts to draw the school's attention to it, the issue has persisted, leaving our client traumatised from the emotional and physical effects of the oppressive acts by these daredevil bullies.
“Sequel to the foregoing, we have our client's instruction to demand the immediate investigation and the pronouncement of the stiffest possible sanctions in the student's rule book, on Ms. Maryam Hassan, Miss Faliya and nine other students who have formed a cult of bullies in Lead British International School, Gwarimpa, Abuja.
“Please note that if the school fails to sanction the student bullies within 48 hours of the receipt of this letter, we have our client's further instruction to seek immediate and severe legal redress against Lead British International School, Gwarimpa, without further recourse to you.”
