Families Of Slain 1949 Coal Miners Drag FG, UK Govt, Pthers To Court
…seek compensation
By Michael Ovat
Families who lost their loved ones in the November 18th 1949 massacre of coal miners in Iva Valley, Enugu by the British Colonial Government have sued the Federal Government, the British Government and the Head of the Commonwealth, demanding compensation.
Human Rights Lawyers, Professor Akinseyi George SAN and P.N Agazie ESQ. said they were seeking for the enforcement of the fundamental rights to Life of the miners as preserved by extant laws applicable to British-Colonial Nigeria and Nigeria as of today.
In a suit, NO: E/909/2024, instituted at Enugu High Court on their behalf, by Mazi Greg Nwachukwu Onoh, the families contend that “the deliberate and excessive use of lethal force by colonial police against unarmed and defenseless miners, who were lawfully demanding fair wages from their British employers, constituted grave violation of their rights to life as guaranteed under both domestic and international law applicable at the time”.
Joined in the suit are the Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), United Kingdom, British Government, Federal Government of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; and Head of the Commonwealth.
The Applicant through their lawyers, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, and P.N Agazie Esq., also argued that “the indiscriminate execution of these miners amounts to an egregious act of state-sanctioned murder, extrajudicial killing, and a flagrant abuse of human rights without Legal or moral justification “
They are demanding an unequivocal acknowledgment of liability by the respondents for the wrongful and unlawful execution of the 21 coal miners; a formal apology from the British Government for the extrajudicial killings, comprehensive compensation for the families and dependents of the deceased miners for the irreversible loss inflicted by the British colonial administration.
The High Court of Enugu had on 12th November 2024, granted leave to the applicant to proceed with the enforcement of the fundamental rights of the deceased victims.
The Court also authorized substituted service of the originating processes on the respondents, after which the substantive application was adjourned to 13th February 2025 for hearing.
At the resumed hearing on 13th February 2025, the presiding judge, Justice A.O. Onovo after listening to the prayers and application for adjournment made by the counsel to the 3rd and 4th Respondents, (Federal Government of Nigeria and Attorney-General of the Federation ), Mrs. N.R Chude, that based on the seriousness of the matter they should be allowed more time to file a rejoinder, a request which was not countered by the lead counsel to Applicant , Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George SAN.
The court granted adjournment at the behest of the 3rd and 4th Respondents, definite hearing of the case is ordered to be on 15th April 2025.
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