Justice Anthony Onovo of the Enugu State High Court has directed the British Government to pay £20 million each to the families of 21 coal miners killed in Enugu State in 1949, bringing the total compensation to £420 million.
The ruling followed a suit over the Iva Valley Coal Mine killings of November 18, 1949, when Enugu served as the administrative headquarters of the Eastern Region under British colonial rule, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The miners had protested poor working conditions, racial wage inequalities, and unpaid arrears. When their grievances were ignored, they embarked on a “go-slow” action and occupied the mine to stop management from locking them out.
The protest escalated when a British superintendent opened fire, killing 21 miners and injuring 51 others. Those killed included 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.
The case, marked NO: E/909/2024, was filed by human rights activist Mazi Greg Onoh, who demanded acknowledgment of responsibility, a formal apology from the British Government, and adequate compensation for the families.
Listed as respondents were the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, the British Government, the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Head of the Commonwealth Government of the United Kingdom. NAN reported that several of the respondents were not represented by counsel.
In his judgment, Justice Onovo described the killings as an unlawful and extrajudicial breach of the right to life, holding the British colonial administration liable. He ordered compensation, official apologies, and diplomatic steps to address the injustice.
According to the judge, the British Government must take responsibility and make reparations to the affected families. He stated that “This 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.”
He further ruled that “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,” adding that post-judgment interest would accrue at 10 percent annually until full payment.
The court also ordered written apologies to be published in Nigeria’s Daily Sun, Daily Independent, and The Punch, as well as three major UK newspapers, with proof of publication to be submitted within 60 days. Payment of the compensation, the judge said, must be completed within 90 days of the judgment.
Justice Onovo held that the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney-General failed in their constitutional duties by not pursuing redress earlier and directed the Nigerian Government to commence diplomatic engagement with the UK within 60 days.
He dismissed objections based on sovereign immunity, affirming the court’s jurisdiction and ruling that historical injustices of this magnitude remain justiciable under Nigeria’s Constitution.
Reacting, counsel to the applicants, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, and P.N. Agazie, hailed the decision as historic, noting that it reinforces global accountability for human rights abuses and aligns with international precedents such as the UK’s Mau Mau settlement.