£420m judgment over 1949 coal miners’ k!lling served on British high commissioner, says lawyer
£420m judgment over 1949 coal miners’ killing served on British high commissioner, says lawyer
Yemi Akinseye-George, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says the judgement ordering the United Kingdom (UK) to pay £420 million as compensation to families of Nigerian coal miners killed in 1949 has been served on representatives of the British government.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Akinseye-George, who led the legal team that handled the case, said certified true copies (CTC) of the judgement have been served on all parties in the suit, including the British high commissioner to Nigeria.
The judgement was delivered by Anthony Onovo, judge of a high court in Enugu state, who ordered the UK to pay £420 million in compensation over the killing of 21 coal miners during the 1949 Iva Valley massacre.
Delivering judgement on February 5, Onovo ruled that the killings of the unarmed miners by colonial police officers constituted an unlawful deprivation of life.
The judge ordered that all sums must be paid within 60 days, adding that post-judgement interest of 10 percent per annum shall accrue until full payment.
Beyond monetary compensation, the judge also ordered a written apology to the victims’ families, which must be published in Daily Sun, Daily Independent, The Guardian, The Punch, and three national newspapers in the UK.
The court further directed the attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and relevant Nigerian authorities to initiate formal diplomatic engagement within 60 days.
The suit was filed by Greg Nwachukwu Onoh, a human rights activist, on behalf of the families and dependants of the victims.
However, a spokesperson for the UK government told the BBC that it could not comment on the matter, given the absence of a formal notification.
Addressing the issue of formal notification, Akinseye-George said the representative of the UK government in Nigeria has been served with the court judgement.
“For now, as representatives of the judgement creditors, we have a responsibility to serve the judgement by law. So, we have served it on all the respondents,” the senior advocate of Nigeria said.
“Beginning with the office of the honourable attorney general of the federation, the British high commissioner and secretary of state. They have now been formally served. And we have copies of the acknowledgement of service on their offices.”
He added that the federal government also has a duty to formally engage the British government to ensure compliance with the judgement.
“…the office of the honourable attorney general is working on making official representation to the authorities of the British,” the lawyer added.
“The federal government has a duty also to serve this judgement, not just to serve the judgement, but to follow through diplomatic mechanisms to also ensure compliance.”
