Enugu High Court to Rule January 29 on Jurisdiction in 1949 Iva Valley Coal Miners’ Compensation Suit
The Enugu State High Court, presided over by Justice A.O. Onovo, has adjourned ruling until 29 January 2026 on the substantive application and preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction in a suit seeking compensation and apology for families of the 21 coal miners killed in the historic 1949 Iva Valley massacre.
At the resumed hearing, the applicants’ lead counsel, Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN, appearing with P.N. Agazie, Esq., argued that the suit is anchored on the constitutional right to life and the duty of the court to provide remedies for violations of fundamental rights. He submitted that the miners were defenceless workers, unlawfully shot while peacefully demanding wages and improved conditions.
Akinseye-George insisted that the British and UK governments must be held accountable for the killings, describing them as acts of inhuman treatment and unjust deprivation of life. He rejected the argument that the Federal Government of Nigeria bears no responsibility, contending instead that the FG has a constitutional duty to liaise with the British government to secure compensation and apology for the victims’ families.
“Our argument is not that the Federal Government should pay directly, but that it must facilitate remedies under the Constitution and apply diplomatic pressure on the British government, even without judgment,” he stated.
Counsel for the Federal Government, Mr. M.N. Chude, urged the court to decline jurisdiction, arguing that the suit is incompetent. He maintained that the FG cannot be held liable for fundamental rights violations committed by the colonial administration during the Iva Valley massacre of 18 November 1949.
