The judgment of the Enugu State High Court awarding £420 million in favour of 21 coal miners killed in 1949 has been formally transmitted to the United Kingdom government for execution.
The ruling, delivered 75 years after the miners were shot during protests over working conditions, ordered the British government to pay £20 million to each of the 21 affected families, amounting to a total of £420 million.
Professor Yemi Akinseye George, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who led the legal team representing the families, confirmed in Abuja that the judgment delivered by Justice Anthony Onovo has been served on the British authorities.
He explained that the judgment was dispatched to the United Kingdom through the British High Commissioner in Nigeria in compliance with the court’s directive.
In the February 5, 2026 judgment, Justice Onovo held that the United Kingdom, which operated the coal mines during the colonial era for commercial purposes, was liable to compensate the families of the 21 victims.
Under the court order, the UK is required to settle the judgment debt within 60 days and report compliance to the court within 90 days.
Professor Akinseye George expressed confidence that the British government would comply with the decision of what he described as a competent court of law. He described the verdict as long awaited justice for the families of the miners whose lives were cut short 75 years ago.
He recalled that on November 18, 1949, coal miners in Enugu embarked on a protest over poor working conditions and discriminatory labour practices. According to him, colonial police officers, acting under the authority of the British colonial administration, opened fire on the unarmed workers, killing 21 of them.
The senior lawyer also commended human rights activist Mazi Greg Nwanchukwu Onoh for initiating the legal action against the British government, noting that the judgment affirms the dignity of life and brings closure to decades of anguish for the affected families.
The miners identified in the suit include Sunday Anyasodo, Ono Oha, Andrew Obiekwe Okonkwo, Augustine Chiwefalu, Onoh Obiekwe, Livinus Ugwu, Ngwu Ofor, Ndunguba Eze, Okafor Agu, Livinus Ofor, Jonathan Ukachunwa and Jonathan Agu Ozani.
Others listed are Moses Ikebu, Okoloha, Chukwu Ugwu, Thomas Chukwu, Simon Nwanchukwu, Agu Alo, Ogbonnia Ani Chima, Nnaji Nwanchukwu, William Nwaku, James Ono Ekeowa, Felix Ekeowa, Felix Nnaji and Ani Nwaekwo.
The court further ordered that if the United Kingdom fails to pay the £420 million within the stipulated period, the sum will attract post judgment interest at 10 percent per annum until full liquidation.
In addition, the court directed the UK authorities to issue a formal apology to the families of the miners and publish the apology in four Nigerian newspapers and three newspapers in the United Kingdom.
