Amuria High School teacher, Samuel Opio has been ordered by court to pay Shs 15 million in compensation to his student, Abraham Obadia whom he assaulted in 2022.
Obadia, now aged 21, was left with a spinal cord injury and paralysis for months. He was in senior five in 2022 and has been unable to return to school since the incident. Yesterday, Wednesday, when both parties returned to court, they were asked to agree on compensation for the student, who has shown some recovery.
Although Obadia still struggles to speak due to the injury, court allowed both sides to settle on compensation following an out-of-court discussion facilitated by grade one magistrate Isaac Nakaoko.
His mother, Grace Anabo, stated that while the Shs 15 million compensation is welcome, it is insufficient to cover the family’s losses since the incident. She revealed that the family sold land and other property to afford treatment after the school failed to assist in the first year.
“The compensation amount does not even cover the damages and losses we have incurred over the last two years. We sold land and other property to meet the costs of treatment for our son when the school declined to help in the first year. But for purposes of peace, we’ll take whatever they give us as a start-up for the new life,” Anabo remarked.
She also expressed concern about her son’s continued inability to speak, despite undergoing treatment for his spinal injury at Kumi Orthopedics. It remains uncertain whether Obadia will be able to return to school, having lost three years due to his medical challenges.
In the agreement, the teacher and the school are to pay the compensation sum in two instalments, starting on December 2, 2024, and concluding on March 2, 2025. Additionally, the court instructed that the teacher and the school continue covering Obadia’s medical treatment until he fully recovers.
“I had earlier directed both parties to meet and settle the matter, but I am devastated to learn that the student continues to suffer and cannot even utter a word,” Nakaoko said while issuing new orders for further treatment.
Obadia’s plight was highlighted by URN stories, which drew attention from various stakeholders, leading to the teacher’s arrest. Opio was later granted bail, on the condition that he meet Obadia’s medical bills.
After securing bail, Opio took Obadia to Kumi Orthopedics, a renowned facility specializing in bone treatment. Both the student and the teacher have been reporting back to court to update the magistrate on the progress of the treatment for Obadia’s injured spine.