Court has ordered Samuel Opio, a teacher from Amuria High School, to compensate his former student, Abraham Obadia, with Shs 15 million. The payment comes after Opio assaulted Obadia in 2022, resulting in severe spinal cord damage that left the student paralyzed for months.
Obadia, now 21, was a Senior Five student at the time and has been unable to return to school since the incident. Though he has made some progress in his recovery, his ability to speak remains impaired. During a recent court session, both parties reached a settlement agreement, overseen by Grade One Magistrate Isaac Nakaoko, to determine appropriate compensation.
Obadia’s mother, Grace Anabo, voiced her disappointment with the Shs 15 million payout, stressing that it falls far short of covering the substantial costs her family has incurred since the incident. She revealed that they had to sell their land and property to fund Obadia’s medical treatment after the school refused to assist during the first year of his recovery.
“The compensation doesn’t even cover a fraction of what we’ve lost,” Anabo stated. “But for the sake of peace, we’ll accept it as a starting point for rebuilding our lives.”
The family remains unsure if Obadia will ever return to school, as his treatment continues at Kumi Orthopedics, a specialized facility. Despite the modest compensation, the court also instructed the teacher and the school to continue financing Obadia’s medical care until he makes a full recovery.
In the settlement, the compensation will be paid in two installments, the first due on December 2, 2024, and the second on March 2, 2025. The case drew public attention after a series of media reports led to Opio’s arrest. He was later released on bail, with the condition that he shoulder the costs of Obadia’s medical treatment. Both parties have been regularly updating the court on the student’s medical progress.
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