By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A court in Enugu, South East Nigeria, has ordered the United Kingdom to pay the sum of £20 million each to the families of coal miners killed by colonial authorities in November 1949, declaring that their deaths amounted to an unlawful and extrajudicial violation of the right to life.
This brings the total sum of reparations awarded for the 21 victims to £420m. The court also ordered a formal apology to the victims’ families, to be published in newspapers in both Nigeria and the UK.
The killings were unjustified, the presiding judge, Justice Anthony Onovo held, adding that the British government bears responsibility for reparations.
The suit was filed by Greg Onoh, who sought a declaration of liability, an apology, and compensation for the descendants of the miners killed at the Iva Valley coal mine in present-day Enugu.
Respondents listed in the case included the UK Foreign Office, the British government, the Nigerian Federal Government, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the head of the Commonwealth, and the UK government. None of the British respondents appeared or were represented in court.
In his ruling, Justice Onovo said the miners were unarmed civilians protesting harsh working conditions and unpaid wages.
“These defenceless coal miners were asking for improved work conditions; they were not embarking on any violent action against the authorities, yet they were shot and killed,” the judge said.
The court ordered that the first, second, fifth and sixth respondents pay a total of £420 million, alongside post-judgment interest of 10 per cent per annum until full payment.
Justice Onovo further directed the Nigerian government to initiate diplomatic engagement with the British government within 60 days to pursue justice and enforcement of the judgment.
On November 1, 1949, coal miners at the Iva Valley mine in Enugu, then the administrative capital of Nigeria’s Eastern Region went on strike over unpaid wages and severe working conditions under British colonial rule.
However, colonial authorities ordered the mine shut, a directive the miners resisted. During the confrontation, the colonial police chief, FS Philip, allegedly ordered officers to open fire on the strikers, killing at least 21 miners and injuring several others.
Coal was a major energy source and revenue earner for the colonial administration at the time.
