The United Kingdom says it has not been notified of the court judgment that ordered it to pay £420 million as compensation to the families of murdered Nigerian coal miners.
A spokesperson for the UK government told the BBC that it
could not comment on the matter, given the absence of a formal notification.
On Thursday, the Enugu state high court ordered the British
government to pay £20 million to each of the families of the 21 coal miners
killed on November 18, 1949.
According to NAN, Anthony Onovo, the presiding judge, ruled
that the killings were unlawful and constituted an extrajudicial violation of
the right to life.
The suit was filed by Greg Onoh, a human rights activist,
who sought an acknowledgement of liability, a formal apology from the British
government, and comprehensive compensation for the families of the victims.
Respondents in the suit are the secretary of state for the
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office; the British government; the
Federal Government of Nigeria; the attorney-general of the federation; the head
of the Commonwealth, and the government of the United Kingdom.
No counsel represented the first, second, fifth, and sixth
respondents.
On November 1, 1949, workers in the coal mine located at Iva
Valley in Enugu, the administrative capital of Eastern region at the time,
commenced a strike over harsh working conditions and debts owed by the colonial
masters.
Coal was a major source of energy and revenue during the
British colonial government.
Displeased with the strike action, the colonial authorities
ordered the shutdown of coal mining operations at the Iva valley — a move that
was rejected by the miners.
Amid the tension, FS Philip, the police chief, was said to
have ordered the shooting of the striking coal miners, killing at least 21 of
them and injuring several others.
The victims were 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 and Chukwu Ugwu.
Others were Thomas Chukwu, Simon Nwachukwu, Agu Alo,
Ogbonnia Ani Chima, Nnaji Nwachukwu, William Nwaku, James Onoh Ekeowa, Felix
Nnaji, and Ani Nwaekwe.
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