Court Orders UK to Pay £420m to 21 Nigerian Families

In a landmark ruling, the Enugu State High Court has ordered the British government to pay £420 million in compensation to the families of 21 Nigerian coal miners brutally killed by colonial forces in 1949.

Presiding judge, Anthony Onovo, declared yesterday that the killings were unlawful and amounted to an extrajudicial violation of the right to life.

The court directed the UK to tender a formal apology, both through the victims’ lawyers and in national newspapers in Nigeria and the UK.

Each family is to receive £20 million, with post-judgment interest at 10 percent per annum until fully paid. The court, however, rejected claims for pre-judgment interest and exemplary damages.

The suit, filed by human rights activist, Greg Onoh, demanded acknowledgment of liability and full reparations for the victims’ families.

Respondents included the British government, UK government, Secretary of State for the Foreign Office, head of the Commonwealth, as well as the Nigerian government and Attorney-General of the Federation.

Judge Onovo urged the Nigerian government to engage diplomatically with the UK within 60 days to ensure that justice is delivered and reparations are implemented.

The tragedy occurred at the Iva Valley coal mine, Enugu, where miners went on strike on November 1, 1949, demanding better wages and safer working conditions.

The British colonial authorities ordered the mine closed, but when miners resisted, FS Philip, the colonial Police Chief, reportedly commanded soldiers to open fire.

The massacre claimed the lives of 21 miners, including Sunday Anyasodo, Ani Oha, Andrew J. Obiekwe Okonkwo, Augustine Chiwetalu, Onoh Ugwu, Ngwu Offor, Ndunguba Eze, Okafor Agu, Livinus Ukachunwa, Jonathan Agu Ozoani, Moses Ikegbu Okoloha, Chukwu Ugwu, Thomas Chukwu, Simon Nwachukwu, Agu Alo, Ogbonnia Ani Chima, Nnaji Nwachukwu, William Nwaku, James Onoh Ekeowa, Felix Nnaji, and Ani Nwaekwe.

“These defenceless coal miners were only asking for better working conditions. They did not attack anyone, yet they were shot and killed,” Judge Onovo ruled.

The historic judgment is seen as a major victory for human rights in Nigeria, holding a foreign government accountable more than 70 years after the atrocity.