1949 Massacre: 21 Families drag FG, British Govt to court, seek compensation

Twenty-one families who lost their loved ones in the November 18, 1949, massacre of coal miners in Iva Valley, Enugu, by the British Colonial Government have taken the Federal Government of Nigeria, the British Government, the Head of the Commonwealth, and others to court, demanding compensation.

In Suit No: E/909/2024, filed at the Enugu High Court on behalf of the families by Mazi Greg Nwachukwu Onoh, the plaintiffs argue that the “deliberate and excessive use of lethal force” by colonial police against unarmed and defenseless miners was a serious violation of their right to life under both local and international laws applicable at the time.

The case has been filed against:

The Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), United Kingdom

The British Government

The Federal Government of Nigeria

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice

The Head of the Commonwealth

Represented by Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, the plaintiffs argue that:

The execution of the miners was state-sanctioned murder, amounting to extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.

The massacre was an unlawful and excessive response to a peaceful labor protest.

The use of state violence to suppress legitimate labor grievances violated both colonial-era laws and international human rights norms.

The plaintiffs are seeking:

Acknowledgment of liability from the respondents for the wrongful execution of the miners.

A formal apology from the British Government for the extrajudicial killings.

Comprehensive compensation for the families and dependents of the deceased miners.

A judicial declaration affirming that the massacre was a gross violation of the right to life and an abuse of state power.

A binding order compelling the Attorney General of Nigeria to engage diplomatically with the British Government to secure redress, in line with the Magna Carta (1215) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).

The Enugu High Court, on November 12, 2024, granted the plaintiffs permission to proceed with the enforcement of the fundamental rights of the deceased miners and authorized the service of court processes on the respondents.

On February 13, 2025, the substantive application was called for hearing. However, as the respondents had not yet filed a rejoinder, the Federal Government’s lead counsel, Mrs. N.R. Chude, requested more time, a request not opposed by the plaintiffs’ lead counsel, Prof. Akinseye-George.

Following this, Justice A.O. Onovo adjourned the case to April 15, 2025, for definitive hearing.