Newsbreak:Court orders British Govt to pay £420m to families of Enugu coal miners killed in 1949.

By Ademola Abidakun and Samuel Ogunsona

The British Government has been asked to pay the sum of £420m to coal miners killed by the British Government in 1949.

The incidence drew the condemnation of the then National Council of Nigerian Citizens,(NCNC) led by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe and the Action Group,(AG) led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

The historic Judgment was delivered Thursday by Justice A.O. Onovo of Enugu High Court.

The Judge on Thursday, ordered the British Government to pay £20 million each to the families of those that fell in the massacre, Irohinoodua reports

21 coal miners were killed in Enugu State in 1949 by British agents.

The incidence took place at Iva Valley coal mines in Enugu on Nov. 18, 1949. It later became the historic Valley of blood.

Enugu was the Capital of the then Eastern Region

The men had protested against injustice, low wages,racial discrimination and poor conditions of service.

The Enugu coal had played a significant source of energy for the British Government and its administrative industries expecially railways in Nigeria.

The protest led to death of 21 miners while 51workers were wounded.

Irohinoodua was informed that the names of those killed were
, Ngwu Offor, Ndunguba Eze, Okafor Agu, Livinus Ukachunwa,

Others were Sunday Anyasodo, Ani Oha, Andrew J. Obiekwe Okonkwo, Augustine Chiwefalu, Onoh Ugwu Jonathan Agu Ozani, Moses Ikegbu Okoloha and Chukwu Ugwu.

Also killed were Thomas Chukwu, Simon Nwachukwu, Agu Alo, Ogbonnia Ani Chima, Nnaji Nwachukwu, William Nwaku, James Onoh Ekeowa, Felix Nnaji, and Ani Nwaekwo.

Human Rights Activist, Mazi Greg N. Onoh had challenged the killings in court calling on the British Government to apologise and pay compensation.

He filed the charges via suit, NO: E/909/2024.

Listed as first respondents were Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, the British Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Also sued as 4th and 5th respondents were Attorney-General of the Federation and Head of Commonwealth, Government of United Kingdom.

The Judge said the killing was a massacre and an unlawful and extrajudicial violation of the right to life.

He held the British colonial administration liable. He asked the British Government to pay substantial compensation and also offer apologies.

The Judge said “These defenseless coal miners were asking for improved work conditions; they were not embarking on any violent action against the authorities, but yet were shot and killed.

The massacre was on 18 November 1949.

A British Superintendent of Police, F.S. Philip asked armed police to rain bullets on protesting workers of the Iva Valley Coal Mine.

The Judge said The 1st, 2nd, 5th and 6th respondents should pay £20 million per victim, totaling £420 million, payable by the British Government as effective remedy and compensation for the violations of the right to life.

“They will also pay post-judgment interest at 10% per annum until fully paid while claims for pre-judgment interest and exemplary damages are hereby refused,” Onovo held.

He asked the British to offer unreserved written apologies to the families via their counsel should be published in Nigeria’s Daily Sun, Daily Independent, and The Punch, and three major national newspapers in the United Kingdom, recognising the historical injustice.

The apology he said should be published within 60 days while the financial liability should be met within 90 days from the date of judgment.

He Judge said the Nigerian Government has the legal duty under Sections 19(d) and 150(1) to pursue redress, and their prolonged inaction “was held to constitute a dereliction of constitutional duty.”

He dismissed preliminary objection on the basis of sovereign immunity.

He affirmed its jurisdiction. The Judge said the historical injustices should be addressed.

“The argument by the representative of the Federal Government that Nigeria was still under colonial rule when the killing was committed is hereby struck out,” Onovo said.

Excited Counsel to the applicant, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George SAN, and P.N. Agazie said it was an historic judgment and indication that “governments anywhere in the world should not tolerate abuses and violations of any form, torture and taking of human lives without provocation.”

The Counsel said the judgment was similar to th United Kingdom’s Mau Mau settlement which emphasise international obligation to justice and human rights proclaimed by the United Nations since 1948.
“This ruling represents a significant milestone in the pursuit of historical accountability and justice for colonial-era violations, affirming that the right to life transcends time, borders, and changes in sovereignty,” the Counsel said.