A high court in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe state, has awarded N200 million in compensation to a 12-year-old girl, Hamsatu Abdullahi, who was electrocuted by a cable belonging to telecom giant MTN.
the Nigeria Electrical Liability Management Company (NELMCO) is a co-defendant in the lawsuit.
The injuries Ms. Abdullahi sustained in the incident resulted in the amputation of both her hands and one of her legs.
Her father, Abdullahi Koki, sought redress from the high court after his daughter’s electrocution at an MTN facility opposite the plaintiff’s home.
Mr. Koki said he had complained about a flagpole being cited in front of his house, but was ignored.
The incident occurred in 2012 in Chumbusko Village in Karasuwa Local Government Area in Yobe State.
The judge, Lawu Lawan, awarded damages of N200 million jointly and against MTN Nigeria Ltd and Nigeria Electricity Liability Management in favor of Hamsatu.
The judgment read in part: “I hold that the plaintiff has duly established by credible and incontestable oral and documentary evidence against the defendants. I also maintain that the plaintiff has the right to claim jointly and severally from the defendants as compensation or general damages for permanent disability due to the loss of her two hands, right leg, continuous pain, medical treatment, anguish, shock and continuous psychological trauma and loss. of the comforts of life caused by the actions and omissions of the defendants.
“Therefore, the sum of two hundred million naira (N200,000,000.00) is awarded to the defendants jointly and severally in favor of the plaintiff. The particular of the heads of damages is as follows:
1. Loss of income, pain and suffering – N10,000,000.00
2. Loss of ability to enjoy life – N10,000,000.00
3. Shortening of life expectancy – 10,000,000.00
4. Cost of maintaining a servant to assist the plaintiff – N10,000,000.00
5. General damages – N150,000,000.00
6. Cost of the action: N10,000,000.00”, Judge Lawan said.
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The plaintiff’s attorney, Ahmed Igoche, said he was happy with the ruling because it involves a minor from a remote town and a multi-million dollar company like MTN and NELMCO.
“What makes me happy about this trial is the state of the people who are involved in this case and our defendants. This is a girl from a remote village in Karasuwa with a very poor family background. So what this trial has taught us is to respect the Law and that the Law can bring you down no matter how high up you are,” Mr. Igoche said.
The defendants have 90 days to appeal.
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