Mother of deceased Karen-Happuch seeks to stop probe

The Federal High Court, Abuja on Friday, granted the request of the mother of late 14-year-old student of Premiere Academy, Lugbe, Karen-Happuch Akpagher to be joined in the suit filed by the school.

The school filed the suit seeking to stop the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) from investigating the alleged rape leading to the death of Karen.

When the matter was called, Mrs Chioma Onwucheya-Uko announced appearance as representing Mrs Vivian Akphaher, the party seeking to be joined in the suit.

Counsel to the school Mr Eyitato Fatogun, SAN, as well as counsel to the FCCP said they had no objection to the application for joinder.

The trial judge, Justice Evelyn Maha in her ruling held that the applicant had placed sufficient material before the court to justify her request to be joined in the suit.

The judge said her decision was based on the grounds that the applicant would be affected by the decision of the court in the suit.

Justice Maha ordered that Akpagher be joined as the 3rd defendant and directed counsel to serve all process in the suit on her.

The judge subsequently fixed Sept. 26 for hearing of the matter.

Karen, a 14 year old, was allegedly raped at Premiere Academy and an object left inside her, infecting her with sepsis and compromising her immunity, which led to her death.

The deceased's mother, Akphagher, petitioned the FCCPC accusing the school of negligence and the commission summoned the school to hear its side.

The school , however, approached the court seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining the commission from investigating the petition brought by Karen's mother.

It said it was opposing the commission's intervention on the grounds that it was seeking to usurp the powers of the police.

The court, however, refused to stop the commision from going ahead with the investigation and rather ordered an accelerated hearing of the substantive matter.

In the action with suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/26/, the school named FCCPC and the Inspector- General of Police as 1st and 2nd defendants/respondents.