Enugu court orders UK to pay £420m compensation to families of slain 1949 coal miners

A High Court in Enugu State has ordered the United Kingdom to pay a total of £420 million in compensation to the families of 21 coal miners killed by British colonial authorities in November 1949, ruling that their deaths were unlawful and amounted to an extrajudicial violation of the right to life.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, the presiding judge, Anthony Onovo, held that the killings at the Iva Valley coal mine were unjustified and that the British government bears responsibility for reparations. The court also ordered the UK to issue a formal apology to the victims’ families, to be published in national newspapers in both Nigeria and Britain.

The case was brought by Greg Onoh, who asked the court to declare liability, mandate a public apology and award compensation to the descendants of the miners who were killed during the colonial-era incident in present-day Enugu.

Those listed as respondents included the British government, the UK Foreign Office, the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the head of the Commonwealth and other related parties. None of the British respondents appeared in court or were represented during the proceedings.

In his ruling, Justice Onovo said the miners were unarmed civilians who were protesting poor working conditions and unpaid wages. He noted that they posed no threat to the authorities and were engaged in a lawful demand for better treatment.

“These defenceless coal miners were asking for improved work conditions. They were not engaged in any violent action, yet they were shot and killed,” the judge said.

The court ordered the relevant respondents to pay £20 million to each victim’s family, amounting to £420 million in total, with post-judgment interest set at 10 percent per annum until the full sum is paid. Claims for pre-judgment interest and exemplary damages were dismissed.

Justice Onovo also directed the Nigerian government to begin diplomatic engagement with the British government within 60 days to pursue enforcement of the judgment and ensure compliance.

The killings occurred on November 1, 1949, when coal miners at the Iva Valley mine went on strike over unpaid wages and harsh working conditions under British colonial rule. Coal was a major source of energy and revenue for the colonial administration at the time.

Colonial authorities ordered the closure of the mine, a directive the miners resisted. During the confrontation that followed, the colonial police chief allegedly instructed officers to open fire on the striking workers, killing at least 21 miners and injuring several 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.