Defamation Suit: Premiere Academy admits #Justice4Keren advocacy has damaged its reputation

In an emotionally charged moment outside the Abuja High Court, sitting in Kwali, Mrs Vivien Akpagher, the mother of Keren-Happuch Aondoodo Akpagher, condemned Premiere Academy—the school where her 14-year-old daughter was allegedly raped, an ordeal that led to severe complications and her tragic death.

Though not formally listed as a party in the legal battle, Mrs Akpagher described Premiere Academy as insensitive, lacking in empathy, and audacious in its decision to file a ₦500 million defamation suit against journalist and gender rights activist, Dr Lemmy Ughegbe, who has been at the forefront of the campaign to identify and prosecute her daughter’s alleged rapist and killer.

Responding to journalists who inquired about her presence in court, an emotional Mrs Akpagher stated that Premiere Academy’s lawsuit against Dr Ughegbe was indirectly aimed at her. She expressed disbelief at the school’s attempt to use legal tactics to suppress the demand for justice for her daughter.

“Premiere Academy had the temerity to bring Lemmy Ughegbe to court—someone who is fighting for my daughter to ensure she gets the justice she deserves. I came here today to look them in the face—the very people I reported to the police as those responsible for my daughter’s rape and death. I wanted to see how they live and how they carry on as though nothing happened.”

She continued, “Is it not absurd and laughable that the sole reason for suing Dr Ughegbe is because he referred to Premiere Academy as suspects during the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Law Week? I filed a criminal complaint at the police station against Premiere Academy, stating that my daughter was raped in their school, which led to her health complications and death. So, by my complaint, are they not suspects?”

Her words, laden with grief and indignation, underscored the gravity of a case that has gripped the nation. Mrs Akpagher lamented that more than three years after her daughter’s passing, justice remains elusive.

“Every day I wake up and ask myself—what did I do wrong? Was it wrong to enrol my daughter at Premiere Academy in pursuit of a good education? Today, I feel education is overrated because it was in the pursuit of an education that she met her death.”

Meanwhile, Premiere Academy in its submission  before the Abuja High Court explained   that the relentless #Justice4Keren campaign, led by Dr Lemmy Ughegbe, has significantly damaged its reputation and financial standing.

During the proceedings, Mrs Chris Akinsonwon, led in evidence by Barrister Olajide Kumuyi from the law firm of Chief Adegboyega Solomon Awomolo (SAN), presented exhibits in court, including a flash drive containing footage of Ughegbe’s passionate address at the 2021 NBA Law Week, where he spoke before 5,000 lawyers about Keren’s case. The school also submitted three years’ worth of admission registers, allegedly showing a sharp decline in student enrolment, with only 59 new applicants in 2022, among other evidence.

While the school argues that Ughegbe’s advocacy has resulted in financial losses, many view this as an acknowledgment of the power of the #Justice4Keren movement—a campaign that has shed light on uncomfortable truths and kept the case in public consciousness.

For human rights advocates, this case transcends defamation; it is about accountability. Ughegbe, known for his unwavering stance against gender-based violence (GBV) and impunity, has remained resolute in his pursuit of justice.

His legal representative, Johnbull Adaghe, contested the admissibility of some of the documents presented by Premiere Academy, arguing that they had not been frontloaded in compliance with the rules of court. However, Justice Kayode Agunloye overruled the objections and admitted the documents as exhibits.

With the court scheduled to play the video evidence of Ughegbe’s NBA Law Week speech on 18th March 2025, public interest in the case continues to grow, particularly as it touches on critical issues of justice, institutional accountability, and the suppression of human rights defenders.

As the legal battle is adjourned to 18th March 2025, Mrs Akpagher’s words serve as a poignant reminder that this is not just a courtroom contest—it is a fight for justice, dignity, and the right to speak truth to power in demand for justice for a rape victim.