The British government has been urged to comply with a High Court of Enugu State judgment ordering it to pay £420 million in compensation to families of 21 coal miners killed in a 1949 protest at the Iva Valley coal mine in Enugu. The court’s decision, delivered on February 5, holds the British government liable for the “unlawful and extrajudicial killing” of the miners.

Lawyers representing the victims’ families, led by Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), have served the British government with the judgment and demanded compliance. The Nigerian government has also been directed to formally initiate diplomatic engagement with the British government to ensure payment of the compensation.

The judgment is seen as a significant victory for human rights and a recognition of the Nigerian government’s duty to protect citizens’ rights, even in cases dating back to the colonial era. The British government is expected to issue a written apology to the families and publish it in major newspapers in Nigeria and the UK.