Lawyers urge the British government to pay £420M to families of Iva Valley massacre victims, enforcing a historic Nigerian court ruling

The British government has been urged to promptly comply with a February 5 ruling of the High Court of Enugu State, which orders £420 million in compensation for the families of 21 coal miners killed during the Iva Valley protest on 18 November 1949.

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The call was made on Friday by a team of lawyers representing the victims’ families, led by Professor Yemi Akinseye-George, Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

Speaking in Abuja, Prof. Akinseye-George emphasised that the British government, as a leading global advocate of human rights, should respect and comply with the judgment aimed at redressing egregious colonial-era violations.

“All necessary parties have been served with certified true copies of the judgment, and it is now incumbent on the judgment debtors to comply,” he said.

“The court of law has spoken. Justice has been declared. We now call for compliance.”

The landmark judgment, delivered by Justice A.O. Onovo of the Enugu High Court, declared that the killings were unlawful and extrajudicial.

The court held that the 21 miners, who were demanding improved working conditions, were not engaged in violent activity but were shot and killed by British colonial authorities.

Justice Onovo directed the British Government, Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth & Development Affairs, the Head of the Commonwealth, and the Government of the United Kingdom to pay £20 million per victim, totaling £420 million, with post-judgment interest of 10 percent per annum until fully paid.

The court also ordered unreserved written apologies to be published in major newspapers in Nigeria and the United Kingdom within 60 days.

Prof. Akinseye-George described the judgment as historic, underscoring that colonial-era human rights violations remain justiciable, and affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to upholding the supremacy of its Constitution and international law obligations.

The legal team confirmed that the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney-General of the Federation have been formally notified, and diplomatic engagement with the United Kingdom is expected within the timelines stipulated by the court.

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The Iva Valley case, filed under suit number E/909/2024 by human rights activist Mazi Greg N. Onoh, highlights the continuing obligation of successor governments to pursue redress for past violations and serves as recognition of 75 years of suffering endured by the families of the victims.