£420m compensation judgment over 1949 coal miners’ killing served on British envoy

A lawyer representing families of Nigerian coal miners killed in 1949 says a court judgment ordering the United Kingdom to pay £420 million in compensation has been formally served on British officials in Nigeria.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Yemi Akinseye-George, a senior advocate of Nigeria who led the legal team, said certified true copies of the judgment have been delivered to all parties involved, including the British high commissioner.

The ruling was delivered by Anthony Onovo of a high court in Enugu, who ordered the UK government to compensate families of 21 miners killed during the 1949 shootings at Iva Valley. The court held that the killing of the unarmed workers by colonial police amounted to unlawful deprivation of life.

The judge directed that payment be made within 60 days, with a 10 percent annual interest to apply until the full amount is settled. He also ordered the UK government to issue a written apology to the victims’ families, to be published in several Nigerian newspapers and three national newspapers in the UK.

In addition, the court instructed the attorney-general of the federation and other relevant Nigerian authorities to begin formal diplomatic engagement within 60 days to ensure compliance with the ruling.

The suit was filed by human rights activist Greg Nwachukwu Onoh on behalf of the victims’ families and dependants.

A spokesperson for the UK government earlier told the BBC it could not comment due to the absence of formal notification. However, Akinseye-George insisted that the British government’s representatives in Nigeria have now been duly served, adding that the federal government is expected to pursue diplomatic steps to enforce the judgment.