The Enugu State High Court has formally transmitted its judgment awarding £420 million in compensation to the, United Kingdom over the 1949 killing of coal miners by colonial police.

The ruling, delivered on February 5, 2026 by Justice Anthony Onovo of the Enugu State High Court, ordered the British government to pay £20 million each to the families of 21 miners who were shot dead during a protest for improved working conditions.

Lead counsel for the victims’ families, Professor Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), confirmed in Abuja that the judgment has been served on the UK authorities through the British High Commission in Nigeria for enforcement.

According to him, the UK is required to settle the judgment debt within 60 days and file a compliance report before the court within 90 days, in line with the court’s directive.

The court held the UK government liable as Nigeria’s colonial authority at the time, noting that the miners were killed on November 18, 1949, during a protest against poor labour conditions and discriminatory practices.

Akinseye-George stated that colonial police opened fire on the unarmed workers instead of addressing their grievances, killing 21 miners at the coal facility in Enugu.

He expressed optimism that the British government would comply with the judgment, describing the ruling as long-awaited justice for families of the victims, 75 years after the incident.

The court also directed the UK to issue a formal apology to the affected families and publish it in four Nigerian newspapers and three UK-based newspapers.

Failure to comply with the order will attract a post-judgment interest of 10 percent per annum on the compensation sum until full payment is made.