Nigeria sends a historic court judgment to the UK, demanding £420m for the 1949 Enugu coal miners massacre victims.
The long walk to justice for 21 Nigerian families has reached a critical milestone. A historic court judgment ordering the United Kingdom to pay £420 million in compensation has been officially sent to the British government for action.
This legal move comes 75 years after colonial police opened fire on unarmed coal miners in Enugu. The miners were simply protesting unfair treatment and poor pay when they were killed in 1949.
Now, an Enugu State High Court has ruled that their families deserve a massive payout of £20 million each.
Leading the legal team, Professor Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, confirmed in Abuja that the British High Commissioner in Nigeria has been formally served with the judgment. The ruling, delivered by Justice Anthony Onovo on February 5, 2026, leaves no room for delay.
The UK government has exactly 60 days to pay the total sum. They must also report back to the court within 90 days to confirm they have complied. If the money isn't paid on time, a 10% interest charge will be added every year until the debt is settled.
Beyond the cash compensation, the court is demanding a public show of remorse. The British authorities must issue a formal apology to the families.
This apology isn't meant to be private; it must be published in four major Nigerian newspapers and three prominent UK publications.
Professor Akinseye-George noted that the 1949 protest was lawful. The miners were only asking for better working conditions, yet they were met with bullets.
For decades, their families carried the pain of this loss without any recognition from the colonial masters.
The lawsuit was made possible through the efforts of human rights activist Mazi Greg Nwachukwu Onoh. His push for legal action has finally brought a sense of closure to the descendants of the victims.
Names like Sunday Anyasodo, Ono Oha, and Andrew Obiekwe Okonkwo, among others, are finally being honored with the justice they were denied in life.
This ruling is being hailed as a major victory for human rights, proving that no matter how long it takes, the truth eventually catches up.
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